The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that avian influenza has infected poultry in the Midwest, Michigan and Canada. You may have heard of avian influenza in the news by its common name of “bird flu.” Consumers, however, don’t need to worry about contracting avian influenza from eating properly handled and cooked poultry and eggs.
Avian influenza can be found in wild birds, backyard poultry flocks and commercial poultry farms, but is considered by the CDC to pose a low risk to most people. “Avian influenza” refers to the infection of birds with avian influenza Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.
The CDC asserts that “the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 [degrees Fahrenheit] kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI A(H5) viruses.” Poultry should always be properly handled and cooked. Michigan State University Extension advises consumers to follow these safe food practices when storing, handling and cooking poultry to eliminate the risk of avian influenza:
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (equal to singing the “Happy Birthday” song all the way through twice) before and after handling food.
- Cook eggs until both the yolk and the white are firm. Never eat raw eggs or food with raw egg ingredients such as cookie dough or cake batter. Cook all dishes containing eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Use a food thermometer to ensure that your poultry is thoroughly cooked. Poultry such as chicken or turkey, should be cooked to an internal temperature 165 degrees. Cooking poultry to 165 degrees also kills additional foodborne pathogens that might be present, such as Salmonella and E. coli.
- Prevent cross-contamination of foods by keeping all raw poultry and their juices away from other items. After cutting raw poultry, wash your cutting board, knife and countertops with hot, soapy water. To reduce the number of germs, you can then sanitize cutting boards by using a solution of chlorine bleach in water. For instructions on how to properly create a sanitizing solution, use the Safe Sanitizing and Disinfecting fact sheet from MSU Extension.
- Never leave raw poultry at room temperature. Place raw poultry in the bottom of the refrigerator in a bowl or on a plate. If raw poultry is not used within one to two days, freeze it for no longer than 12 months for best quality.
- Never wash raw poultry. The juices that splash during washing can transfer pathogens onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.
- If cooking in an oven, place the poultry in a roasting pan and set the oven temperature no lower than 325 degrees.
- When barbecuing outdoors, keep poultry refrigerated until it is ready to be cooked. Do not place cooked poultry on the same plate that was used for raw poultry.
- When marinating raw poultry, always throw away used marinade. Never reuse the marinade from raw poultry on cooked poultry.
Source : msu.edu