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Cooked chicken is safe to eat.
However, raw chicken may contain bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness (food poisoning).
About 1 million people in the United States get sick from contaminated poultry each year.
Anjelika Gretskaia / Getty Images
High cooking temperatures kill bacteria and prevent food poisoning.
Common symptoms of food poisoning include abdominal cramping,diarrhea, andvomiting.
Mild Symptoms
Mild cases of food poisoning can be managed at home.
If you become dehydrated or your symptoms do not improve, call a healthcare provider.
However, if you develop severe symptoms, you may require hospitalization.
When Will You Start to Feel Sick?
Food poisoning can occur within hours or days of eating contaminated food.
The time frame depends on the specific bacteria.
Does the Amount of Chicken Matter?
Experts do not recommend making yourself vomit because this could cause damage to your gut.
If you develop symptoms, focus on staying as hydrated as possible.
Plan to stay home and rest while experiencing symptoms.
Due to diarrhea or vomiting, you will likely need to stay near a bathroom.
Once your symptoms resolve and you feel better, there is no need to seek medical treatment.
However, be sure to drink fluids to replace the fluids you lost.
See a healthcare provider if your symptoms last more than a few days.
See a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not improve after a few days.
Cooked chicken is safe for most people.
Raw chicken is unsafe to consume because it may contain certain bacteria, includingCampylobacter,Salmonella, andClostridium perfringens.
These bacteria may lead to foodborne illness or food poisoning.
To kill harmful bacteria, cook chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
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