Why is chicken considered to be a high risk food?

Answer 1

Answer:Salmonella is a type of food poisoning and can be contracted from many raw foods, mostly meat and poultry products that have been contaminated with the Salmonella enteritidis bacterium. It can also be contracted from cooked foods that have come into contact with raw foods. Salmonella can be found in

• Poultry, pork, and cattle, if the meat is prepared incorrectly or somehow becomes infected with the bacteria.
• Infected eggs and milk, as well as egg products, when not prepared, handled, or refrigerated properly.
• Reptiles such as turtles, lizards, and snakes, as they can carry the bacteria on their skin.
• Pet rodents
• Tainted fruits and vegetables

About 142,000 Americans are infected each year with salmonella from chicken eggs, and about 30 die.

Chicken has a higher risk because of its high rate of salmonella contamination, as well as the high likelihood of its being cooked insufficiently. FDA guidelines state that, to help reduce the chance of food-borne salmonellosis, food must be cooked to 68-72°C (145-160°F), and liquids like soups or gravies must be boiled. Freezing is not sufficient to kill Salmonella. While Salmonella is usually heat-sensitive, the same doesn't apply in high-fat environments.

Answer 2

Chicken (and all raw poultry products) are considered to be high risk foods because the meat can be contaminated with Salmonella, Campylobacter and other bacteria that can make consumers ill if the food is not handled properly.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has a four-step method to greatly reduce the hazards associated with raw meat and poultry: Cook, Clean, Separate and Chill.

Answer 3

Following are some bacteria associated with chicken:

• Salmonella Enteritidis may be found in the intestinal tracts of livestock, poultry, dogs, cats and other warmblooded animals. This strain is only one of about 2,000 kinds of Salmonella bacteria; it is often associated with poultry and shell eggs.
• Staphylococcus aureus can be carried on human hands, in nasal passages, or in throats. The bacteria are found in foods made by hand and improperly refrigerated, such as chicken salad.
• Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness in humans. Preventing cross- contamination and using proper cooking methods reduces infection by this bacterium.
• Listeria monocytogenes was recognized as causing human foodborne illness in 1981. It is destroyed by cooking, but a cooked product can be contaminated by poor personal hygiene. Observe "keep refrigerated" and "use-by" dates on labels.

Answer 4

Chicken is considered a high risk food because it can support the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.