Most Aussies don’t know how to cook chicken and eggs properly: Study

If the results of the latest Food Safety Information Council report card on Australia’s kitchen habits are anything to go by, the cooking practices of many Aussies could actually be making them ill.

The shocking results show there are 4.1 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year, resulting in 31,920 hospitalisations, 86 deaths and one million GP visits. And, while a weekly quiche or a roast chicken is a staple in most homes, it turns out that 70 per cent of Australians don’t actually know how to cook chicken and eggs properly.

These poor cooking practices increase the risk of the campylobacter bacterial infection and salmonella, which can cause severe food poisoning and symptoms such as diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, nausea, pain and even death in extreme cases.

Figures show that 36 per cent of Australians risk their health by eating raw egg dishes and as many as 10 per cent of the population eat raw egg meals at least once a month.

Eggs are one of the biggest sources of food poisoning if not handled or prepared correctly and many put themselves at risk when preparing uncooked dishes, sauces and dressings that contain raw or lightly cooked eggs such as fresh mayonnaise, mousses, tiramisu or egg nog.

The research conducted by the Food Safety Information Council shows 20 per cent risk their health when they handle uncooked foods containing raw egg incorrectly. One in five people didn’t realise homemade mayonnaise containing egg needs to be refrigerated immediately, while 2 per cent believed it could be left out of the fridge all night and 7 per cent didn’t know what to do at all.

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Furthermore, pies glazed with raw eggs, raw dough for pasta and muffins and even pancake batter that’s eaten before it has been baked or cooked increase the risk of food poisoning.

Similarly, poultry including chicken, turkey, duck and quail can easily become contaminated all the way through by food poisoning bacteria. Raw poultry should never be washed before cooking as this can spread bacteria through the kitchen. Instead, excess moisture should be cleaned with a paper towel.

As many as 60 per cent of Aussie homes wash poultry before cooking, while 16 per cent of people put their health at danger by tasting chicken to see if it is sufficiently cooked, rather than using a meat thermometer or simply cutting into the meat to check the juices are running clear and not pink. Each year, 50,000 cases of the campylobacter infection are linked to chicken meat.

To reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses, the Food Safety Information Council recommends following six simple steps. Hands should be washed with soap and running water and dried thoroughly before raw meat or poultry is handled. Equally, hands should be cleaned after using the toilet, touching your face or hair and after blowing your nose.

If you’re feeling unwell, food shouldn’t be prepared for other people and food should be stored in a fridge that’s running at or below 5°C. A food thermometer should always be used to check that meats are cooked to at least 75°C in the thickest part of the meat, while egg dishes such as quiche should be at least 72°C.

Cooked meat and poultry shouldn’t be placed back on the same surface that raw meat or poultry has been placed on and should be handled with clean utensils and tongues. Chopping boards, knives and other kitchen equipment should also be cleaned in hot soapy water and dried thoroughly between using them for raw meat and poultry and other foods that need further cooking.

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Have you ever had food poisoning? How do you keep yourself safe in the kitchen?