AIBU to think that chlorinated chicken actually sounds like a sensible idea?

[Leafyhouse]

I mean, we're always being told to wash our hands thoroughly and disinfect surfaces after touching raw meat, because of the risk of Campylobacter. And now, we're not supposed to wash the chicken, just put it straight in the oven and roast - again, because of the risk of Campylobacter.

So why not chlorinate it? Sounds like mild chlorination would give the chicken a longer shelf-life, and make it much safer to handle. Why the hatred, people?

It’s not actually a very effective way of decontaminating the meat. Bacteria can go into a suspended state during the process and then reactivate later. Food poisoning is much higher in the USA than in the EU.

inews.co.uk/news/consumer/chlorine-chicken-washed-chlorinated-germs-illness-safe-90830

Anyone who has ever visited the USA and eaten chicken has eaten chlorine rinsed chicken - we have been to Florida/New York/Chicago/California thankfully not dead yet.

I also eat bagged salad in the UK - guess what ... chlorine rinsed... woooo

I previously worked as a chef and I never even cut raw chicken. I cook it first then cut it. It goes from the packet onto the tray wrapped in tin foil, cooked in the oven then I cut it so I don't end up spreading germs all over the kitchen (I have wooden chopping boards). It means the only thing the raw chicken has touched is my hands which I wash immediately after. I can then put the foil in the recycling bin and I'm not binning plastic boards all the time and my wooden one's last ages

The US are trying to frame it as “what’s wrong with a bit of chlorine” but actually it’s why they need it that’s the issue. Because their hygiene standards are, compared to EU standards, appalling. They won’t raise their game because they want to produce cheaply but are hoping we’re so desperate for a trade deal we’ll take their revolting meat.

It's really, really not a good idea. It makes for terrible conditions for the chickens because 'everything will be chlorinated'. Much better to just insist on good welfare standards and for people to cook hygienically at home.

Why are people washing chicken?
Do you rinse a whole chicken under the sink before roasting?

No. Not a sensible idea AT ALL.

Food standards in US are way way below ours, and then washing a chicken in chlorinated water does not sort it.

OP have you looked at the rates of food poisoning over here compared to US?

That will answer your question (hopefully)

No, I don't want their disgusting meat over here thank you.

re washing / not washing.

I think this is a cultural thing. Some areas of the world do wash chickens because they are/were sold in less hygienic places so maybe needed to be washed to get eg soil/muck off them. Then when people immigrated to this country they carried on doing as their mothers taught them.

I'd rather have chicken grown / processed in hygienic conditions than one that has to be doused in chlorine.

OK, let's put it another way.

I'm cooking you dinner tonight.

I've got the shits, I'm puking every two hours, got a temperature of 40 Celsius. I don't wash my hands after each time half my insides try to erupt from my body and on one occasion, I was doubled up with cramps and dropped your chicken on the floor that I haven't properly cleaned since the cat had her episode of the shits.

I vaguely remember that I left the chicken out on the countertop overnight and shooed some flies off it before starting to prepare it. In a last minute moment of guilt, I dunk the chicken in a bleach solution in the filthy sink before shoving it in the oven.

You're alright eating that, aren't you? It's been rinsed in bleach, after all.

Chlorine=bad to eat.

@MitziK

Bad for you. Not good for the poor chickens who are raised in worse conditions than we allow. A normal chicken should not need a chlorine bath before cooking.

Yea, seems fair enough. Thank you MN, I was just seeking some collective wisdom - I didn't know the argument about disguising low food standards, seems reasonable to me.

I don't think our farming practices at the low end of the market are much better to be honest. Chickens pumped full of antibiotics to make them grow quicker, if you can buy a chicken in the supermarket for £4.00 or less you need to ask yourself why?

Pro-Tory bots starting controversial threads

I’m sure Jay Raynor tweeted something about this not long ago, saying that the chlorine doesn’t kill the bugs, just makes them non-culturable. So no safer for the person eating the chicken. And despite all that chlorine-bathing, the USA has far higher rates of salmonella than we do.

I only buy free range meat and prefer chickens straight from pecking the earth to my plate. I see no need for chlorination.

YABU. Have you ever tasted chicken, or for that matter any food in the USA, it all tastes like absolute shit?