Poultry Inspector Question:

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If the chicken is fresh and is properly cooked (to an end point temperature of at least 165 degrees F.) there should be minimal danger. The bacteria that may be of concern is Salmonella. There is a possibility that Salmonella could be present on some raw chickens, but as stated earlier, proper cooking eliminates any potential problems. In addition to proper cooking, another safeguard that should be remembered when preparing all meat items is to carefully wash hands, utensils, and countertops after preparing the meat to avoid cross-contamination to other foods.