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From buttery soft salmon sashimi and citrusy ceviche to a perfectly rare sirloin steak or beef carpaccio, many of our favorite meat and seafood dishes are best served raw or (deliciously) undercooked. Other than being pregnant or having certain health concerns, there isn’t really a reason to stay away from these foods as long as they are properly sourced and kept at a safe temperature.
Theres a reason U. S. health officials recommend eating chicken when its fully cooked. Unlike red meats like meat or lamb, poultry often harbors harmful bacteria like salmonella. If these bacteria arent completely killed off during cooking, they can cause food poisoning, nausea, stomach pains, and/or diarrhea.
Of course, the best way to avoid this food disaster is to always cook your chicken all the way through, whether you’re grilling, roasting, air-frying, or searing it. The FDA recommends cooking your bird until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (and yes, you should if you dont own one already).
Meet the Experts: Jennifer L Bonheur is a board-certified gastroenterologist in New York City. In addition to working at her private practice, she’s an attending physician at both NYU Langone Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. Samantha Nazareth is double board-certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology. She practices in New York City and is a Womens Health Advisory Board member.
Sounds easy enough, right? That said, youre not always the one doing the cooking. What happens if you find yourself biting into a grilled chicken leg at a dinner party or barbecue only to find that its woefully undercooked inside? Do you spit it out? Rush to the emergency room?
I caught up with gastroenterologists to find out exactly what to do if you ate raw chicken breasts, thighs or wings. I also asked some of the WH test kitchen pros to weigh in on how you can avoid this (terrible) situation in the first place.
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can be extremely dangerous. Chicken often contains harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can cause severe food poisoning if eaten. Eating even a small amount of raw chicken can put you at risk for illnesses that could be life-threatening. So what happens if you eat some raw chicken by accident?
Understanding Foodborne Illnesses
Pathogens like Salmonella Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens are often found in raw chicken and can be very dangerous. If you eat undercooked chicken that has these bacteria on it, you take in the pathogens, which then quickly multiply in your body. This can make you sick from eating certain foods, which can give you diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever.
Foodborne illnesses spread easily from person to person and can even cause serious complications like reactive arthritis, meningitis, osteomyelitis, and sepsis. Vulnerable groups like pregnant women, infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk of severe illness. So it’s critical to handle raw chicken carefully and cook it thoroughly before eating.
Risks of Eating Raw Chicken
Chicken that is raw or not cooked all the way through can make you sick. Here are some of the biggest risks you should be aware of:
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Salmonella – The most common bacterial cause of food poisoning from chicken. Causes diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting.
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Campylobacter – Leads to diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever. Can also cause long-term complications.
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Clostridium perfringens – Causes abdominal cramps, diarrhea. Toxins attack the small intestine lining.
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Staphylococcus aureus – Leads to nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps. Can be life-threatening.
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Escherichia coli – Causes severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever.
If you eat some raw chicken by accident, you may get sick within hours or days. How long it lasts and how bad it is depends on your health, the pathogen, and how much chicken you ate.
Symptoms After Eating Raw Chicken
If you accidentally eat some raw chicken, watch out for these common symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Weakness and fatigue
- Dehydration
Symptoms typically start within 6-48 hours after eating the contaminated chicken. The timing varies depending on the pathogen – Salmonella symptoms may begin in 6-72 hours while Campylobacter onset is 2-5 days.
Most food poisoning symptoms last under a week but certain strains can cause prolonged illness lasting weeks. Seek medical care if you have severe bloody diarrhea, high fever, vomiting/diarrhea lasting over 3 days or signs of dehydration.
What To Do If You Eat Raw Chicken
If you realize you accidentally ingested some raw or undercooked chicken, here are some important steps to take:
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Don’t induce vomiting – This can make the illness worse.
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Drink fluids – Stay hydrated with water, broths, diluted juices or electrolyte drinks.
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Monitor symptoms – Note down any symptoms and when they started.
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Call your doctor – If you develop severe diarrhea, vomiting, high fever or dehydration, call your doctor immediately.
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Take OTC medications – You can take Imodium for diarrhea or Pepto Bismol for nausea/cramps.
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Get rest – Food poisoning can leave you exhausted. Rest up and save your strength.
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Replenish nutrients – Once symptoms resolve, focus on regaining lost nutrients through vitamin supplements and nutritious foods.
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Practice food safety – Be meticulous about safe handling, cooking and storage of chicken moving forward.
Treatment for Food Poisoning
Most cases of food poisoning from raw chicken will resolve on their own with rest and hydration. But some people may need medical treatment such as:
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IV fluids – If dehydrated, you may need IV fluids to recover lost electrolytes.
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Antibiotics – For severe bacterial infections, doctors may prescribe antibiotics.
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Hospitalization – If you have severe diarrhea, dehydration or a weakened immune system, you may need hospitalization for close monitoring and prompt treatment.
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Dietary management – Your doctor may recommend a bland, BRAT diet to rest your stomach as it recovers.
To reduce the risk of complications, it’s important to seek timely medical care if your symptoms are severe or prolonged.
How To Avoid Food Poisoning From Raw Chicken
You can avoid the misery of food poisoning by taking simple precautions when handling raw chicken:
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Cook thoroughly to 165°F – Use a food thermometer to confirm chicken reaches the safe minimum internal temperature.
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Prevent cross-contamination – Use separate boards and utensils for raw chicken. Never place cooked food back on surfaces/plates that touched raw chicken.
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Wash hands and surfaces – Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils in hot soapy water after handling raw chicken.
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Refrigerate promptly – Store raw chicken below 40°F. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
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Thaw safely – Thaw frozen chicken in the fridge, not out at room temperature.
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Marinate carefully – Refrigerate chicken while marinating. Don’t reuse marinade.
Following safe food handling and cooking guidelines can help protect you and your loved ones from bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. Be especially careful when cooking chicken, as it’s one of the highest risk raw meats.
Eating raw or undercooked chicken can have serious consequences, even if you just ingest a small amount. Numerous harmful pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter can lead to miserable symptoms and severe illnesses. Monitor yourself carefully for any signs of food poisoning if you accidentally eat raw chicken. With prompt treatment and proper preventive food safety habits, you can avoid complications and recover fully.
What happens if you eat raw chicken, really?
Is it safe to eat raw chicken? In short, no. You might get sick with food poisoning. And unless you’re Emily Charlton from “The Devil Wears Prada,” those two scary words are enough to make your skin crawl.
“Raw chicken—as well as its juices—is often contaminated with campylobacter bacteria and sometimes with salmonella and clostridium perfringens,” says Jennifer L. Bonheur, MD, a gastroenterologist in New York City. There is also a small chance you can get Escherichia coli from raw chicken, “though, typically its more common to get E. coli from undercooked beef and contaminated raw fruits or veggies,” says Samantha Nazareth, MD, a gastroenterologist in New York.
All of these foodborne pathogens can cause diarrhea usually alongside nausea and vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
And, all it may take is one or two bites.
What should you do if you get sick from raw chicken?
First things first, immediately ban whatever establishment or home you previously ate at for ample time—and yes, even if that means avoiding your moms cooking for weeks. (Sorry, mom!).
Back to the question: No one wants to say it, but you just have to deal with the symphony of symptoms. There isnt really a magic pill or cure-all.
“If you have diarrhea, nausea, and cramps—the usual signs of food poisoning—start eating bland foods and drink lots of water and electrolyte drinks until your symptoms get better,” Dr. Bonheur says.
Most food poisoning cases will last up to a week. That being said, Dr. Scott says you should see a doctor if your symptoms don’t get better or get worse within a week, if you have bloody diarrhea, a fever above 102 degrees, are pregnant, or don’t have a strong immune system. Nazareth.
Starting to show signs of dehydration (think: dizziness, dry mouth, low blood pressure, reduced urination)? Err on the safe side and give the doc a call. Some of these worsened symptoms like high fever and bloody stools might mean you have a more aggressive infection. But thats not usually the case.
What Really Happens If You Eat Raw Chicken
FAQ
What if I eat a little bit of raw chicken?
Foodborne Illness: Raw chicken can harbor pathogens that can lead to food poisoning. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. These symptoms can appear within hours or days after consumption.
Will I be okay if I ate slightly pink chicken?
All that matters is the temperature, not color. The USDA recommends that all poultry be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees to reduce the likelihood of foodborne illness, though dark meat can be juicier at temperatures up to 195 degrees.
What happens if you accidentally eat a piece of raw meat?
…the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that meat that isn’t cooked all the way through can contain bacteria and parasites that can make you sick.
How long after eating raw chicken will you get salmonella?
Salmonella infections are usually brought on by eating meat, poultry, eggs, or egg products that are raw or not fully cooked, or by drinking milk that has not been pasteurized. The incubation period — the time between exposure and illness — can be 6 hours to 6 days.