Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Accidentally Took a Bite of Raw Chicken | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
I cooked some chicken fingers in the oven and did not realize that they were not cooked but packaged raw and breaded. I took a bite of the chicken and half of it was still raw. What should I do? Will I get Salmonella?— Paranoid Chicken in Austin, Texas | | | ANSWER |
June 13, 2001 | | | Dear Paranoid Chicken,
You must have had quite a surprise when you bit into that raw chicken! Your question is a good one, and it shows you are well educated about food safety (see our article on food safety). There is a high rate of Salmonella contamination of poultry and eggs, and this bacterium can cause very serious illness, particularly in young children and people who have decreased ability to fight infections (e.g., cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy).
For any single accidental exposure like yours, however, the chances are good that you will be just fine if you don't have any problems with your immune system. That said, if you get sick in the next few days you should contact your healthcare provider and let her know about this episode. The usual symptoms involve the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., diarrhea), but Salmonella can cause infections in many parts of the body, so any unexplained illness (e.g., unexplained fever) also should be checked out. I wish you well, and hope that you continue to be careful about how you handle food.— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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