Handwashing Practices While Cooking Chicken

Study Overview

A recent study conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has shed light on handwashing practices during chicken preparation. The research aimed to explore effective methods for educating the public about safe poultry cooking practices, including both washing chicken and proper hand hygiene.

Should You Wash Chicken Before Cooking?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently advised against washing poultry before cooking. They assert that cooking chicken to the appropriate temperature is sufficient to eliminate harmful bacteria. Washing chicken in the sink can lead to contamination of the sink and any items placed in it afterward.

Study Findings on Bacterial Contamination

Published in the Journal of Food Protection, the study evaluated the effectiveness of the USDA’s guidance on reducing bacterial contamination in kitchens. Ellen Shumaker, an associate at North Carolina State University and co-author of the study, noted, “We also wanted to get a better idea of how, if at all, washing poultry actually led to increased contamination in the kitchen.”

Participant Group and Methodology

The research involved 300 participants who typically washed their chicken before cooking. They were divided into two groups: one group of 142 received three educational emails containing videos and infographics from the USDA about safe poultry preparation, including the recommendation to avoid washing raw poultry. The other group of 158 did not receive any educational content.

During the study, participants prepared chicken thighs and a salad in a video-monitored kitchen. Researchers looked for cross-contamination between the chicken, sink, countertops, and salad. Participants were unaware that the chicken was intentionally contaminated with E. coli, allowing researchers to test for contamination on various surfaces.

Impact of Educational Materials

The results revealed that 93% of participants in the group that received education did not wash their chicken, compared to only 39% in the group without prior education. This indicated that the educational materials effectively encouraged participants to refrain from washing raw poultry.

Need for Emphasis on Kitchen Sanitation

Despite the positive outcome regarding poultry washing, researchers found that a stronger focus is needed on overall kitchen sanitation. The presence of E. coli in the sink and salad lettuce was tested, revealing that up to 30% of participants who washed their chicken also contaminated their salad. Notably, those who did not wash their chicken were still more likely to contaminate their salad if they had not received educational content.

Shumaker commented, “This was a little surprising since the conventional wisdom had been that the risk associated with washing chicken was because water would splash off of the chicken and contaminate surrounding surfaces. Instead, the sink itself was becoming contaminated, even when the chicken wasn’t being washed.”

Focus on Hand Hygiene and Sanitation

Researchers speculated that hand contamination between handling chicken and salad is a significant concern. Shumaker emphasized, “Washing the chicken is still not a good idea, but this study demonstrates the need to focus on preventing contamination of sinks and emphasizing the importance of hand-washing and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.” Consequently, future public food safety education should prioritize proper handwashing and sanitation practices to enhance public safety.

References

Shumaker, E.T. et al. (2022). Observational Study of the Impact of a Food Safety Intervention on Consumer Poultry Washing. Journal of Food Protection; 85(4): 615-625. Doi: 10.4315/JFP-21-397.
Shipman, M. (2022). In a food safety study, 25% of participants contaminated salad with raw chicken. EurekAlert! Accessed on Apr. 6, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/948619

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