Kitchen hygiene experts and professional butchers are sounding the alarm about a dangerous habit that could be putting households across the UK at risk of serious food poisoning. While most home cooks are careful about washing their hands after handling raw chicken, there's one crucial step many are missing.
The Hidden Danger in Your Kitchen
According to food safety specialists, the single most important task after preparing raw chicken isn't just about handwashing - it's about what happens to the surfaces that come into contact with the poultry. Research shows that campylobacter and salmonella bacteria can survive on countertops, cutting boards, and utensils for hours, creating an invisible threat in your kitchen.
What the Experts Recommend
Professional butchers emphasise that immediately after handling raw chicken, you must:
- Thoroughly disinfect all work surfaces with antibacterial spray
- Wash cutting boards in hot, soapy water
- Sanitise utensils and knives used during preparation
- Clean sink taps and handles that were touched with contaminated hands
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Food Standards Agency data reveals that contaminated surfaces cause thousands of food poisoning cases annually. "People focus on cooking chicken thoroughly, which is vital, but they forget about the contamination trail they leave behind," explains one food safety officer. "A single droplet of chicken juice can contain millions of bacteria."
Simple Steps for Complete Protection
Beyond surface cleaning, experts recommend using separate cutting boards for raw meat and other foods, changing kitchen cloths regularly, and ensuring proper storage of raw chicken at the bottom of the fridge to prevent drips onto other foods.
By making this one additional cleaning step part of your routine, you can significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination and keep your kitchen truly safe for food preparation.
