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AIBU?

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Original poster

Will I get food poisoning, used knife used to cut raw chicken

24 replies

beachesandbuckets · 03/08/2013 17:48

Couple of days after giving birth, not really with it due to lack of sleep. Found a knife in the kitchen sink, picked it out, and used it to cut fruit which I then ate. Then realised that dh had used said knife to open packing of raw roast chicken. Am worrying now as last thing I need at the moment is food poisoning. Any thoughts?

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 03/08/2013 17:49

how can you have raw roast chicken?

to be honest though, if all he did was use it to open the pack, there was probably no chicken residue on it, and even if there was, the risk is miniscule..

DragonsAreReal · 03/08/2013 17:51

Do you mean a ready cooked roast chicken or a raw whole chicken?

Whothefuckfarted · 03/08/2013 17:52

Don't give it another thought - you'll be fine.

Iamsparklyknickers · 03/08/2013 17:53

I wouldn't worry, it's highly unlikely you've picked up anything off the packaging.

Ladame · 03/08/2013 17:53

OK, yes it's a possibility. If the knife was in the sink, is it possible that it had been washed? (crosses fingers). If not, then you may get an upset stomach. Be prepared with something to rehydrate you if you get d&v. Are you bf? Make sure your dh is around, it normally takes about 4 hours or so. I hope that it's all ok

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 03/08/2013 17:54

So he only used the knife to open the packaging? I'd stake my life on the fact you'll be fine

GlaikitFizzog · 03/08/2013 17:57

So when did you use the knife? Food positioning would happen within 12 hours if you had it. If the chicken was fresh, unlikely it would have had anything really nasty lurking on it.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Turniptwirl · 03/08/2013 18:06

You probably will be fine but it is possible. Tell dh to wash up anything used on raw meat straight away, especially while you're a bit zoned out! This is something that I'm funny about and would worry myself over. Make sure there is loo roll a plenty and something to rehydrate yourself with in the unlikely event of you do get ill.

Congrats on the birth of your DC! Hope you stay healthy

Original poster

beachesandbuckets · 03/08/2013 18:07

It was an uncooked whole chicken ready for roasting, knife used to cut plastic wrapping off and had been in empty sink for about 20 mins.

OP posts:

Lottiedoubtie · 03/08/2013 18:10

Really unlikely- the knife would have had to have still got chicken residue on it. AND the chicken in question would have to have a nasty bug on it- certainly not all chickens will have a bug.

AND you would have had to ingest enough to make you sick from whatever was transferred onto the fruit.

Sure it's possible, but it definitely isn't probable.

Try not panic, you'll prob be fine.

xylem8 · 03/08/2013 18:49

It would depend on whether the bird had salmonella.
But (you won't want to hear this) a very good friendofmine got salmonella food poisoning from a wedding where the caterer had chopped strawberries with the same knife as raw chicken.

newryan · 03/08/2013 18:56

I think you'll be fine. We live overseas where you can't drink the water but the number of times the dcs have drunk a bit by mistake and been fine....also we buy chicken from the local market and they chop it up then hand you your change with chicken gunk all over it. We've never got sick. I think we can withstand an awful lot!

bigTillyMint · 03/08/2013 18:59

Oh God, I do stupid things like that all the time and never get ill (apart from dysentery in India 16 years ago!) But maybe that's due to having had an even more lax mother and therefore an iron constitution!

WilsonFrickett · 03/08/2013 19:06

Very few chickens are infected with salmonella. We take loads of precautions because it's such a nasty illness, but that doesn't mean that there are millions of chickens sitting in fridges right now with salmonella in them.

So if he sliced the packaging, then put it in the sink, it's had minimal contact. Try not to worry.

LoveBeingItsABoy · 03/08/2013 19:08

Think you are more likely to make yourself sick from worrying about it

BigBoobiedBertha · 03/08/2013 19:17

There probably was some chicken juices on the packaging, I can't see how they can avoid it really - I assume it was that shrink wrap cling film stuff?

However, as others have said, after the Edwina Curry egg debacle and all the upset about Salmonella then, they have pretty much got rid of the disease from chickens in this country.

I reckon you would have to be very unlucky to pick something up from such a small exposure and I am sure we have all risked worse. I picked up a chicken from the supermarket the other week that leaked juices a little bit on my hand. I was very careful all the way round the shop not to use that hand too much but had forgotten about it by the time I got home and unpacked the shopping. I was slicing up bread for lunch by the time I remembered. Thankfully I survived as did the rest of the family. You'll be fine I'm sure.

Original poster

beachesandbuckets · 03/08/2013 19:21

Thanks everyone x

OP posts:

Zoomania · 03/08/2013 19:22

My mother in law never worries about raw chicken and chops salad etc with same knife and board straight after etc! I am always paranoid she is going to poison me but so far ok! I think the odds of you getting ill are slim as as others have said most birds are not infected.

wallpaperaddict · 03/08/2013 19:29

If it makes you feel better we had a chicken curry for dinner one night, popped all the utensils etc that had raw chicken on into the dishwasher. Put dishwasher on, go to bed, don't give it any thought. Wake up next morning, make tea, breakfast for me and DC using what I think is clean stuff from the dishwasher. However, the dishwasher had malfunctioned and we basically ate off of dirty stuff that had only been rinsed in cold water with amongst over food waste the raw chicken. We were amazingly absolutely fine so it's not a certain that you will be ill! I still shudder when I think of it, so gross.

Mandy2003 · 03/08/2013 20:47

^ is why I will never give house room to a dishwasher!

badbride · 03/08/2013 21:26

Please try not to worry: the percentage of chickens contaminated with Salmonella is very low (a few per cent).

The main food poisoning risk from eating raw or undercooked chicken is caused by a bacterium called Campylobacter, which is present in a quite a lot of chickens. But even if you have been exposed (which is by no means certain), it normally only causes mild illness that sorts itself out in a couple of days (www.patient.co.uk/health/campylobacter).

I'd try not to think about it and assume all will be fine-if you do develop symptoms, by all means mention it to your midwife/GP -- the key is not to get dehydrated, esp if you are breastfeeding.

badbride · 03/08/2013 21:28

Just to add: I'm not a medic, BTW, so if you are genuinely worried, do call your GP/ midwife

Original poster

beachesandbuckets · 09/08/2013 21:48

Thanks all, didn't get anything in the end, possibly over anxious new mum!

OP posts:

dementedma · 09/08/2013 22:43

Sheesh. Fuss over nothing. You'll live

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