Chicken Food Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms & Prevention

Although food poisoning can come from a variety of foods, one major cause is undercooked or improperly handled raw chicken.

Significance

• The bacteria campylobacter is the most common cause of food-induced diarrhea in the world, according to the Center for Disease Control, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Function

• Campylobacter lives in most birds' digestive tracts, and almost all raw chicken and other poultry contain the bacteria.

Effects

• Campylobacter infection symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.

Misconceptions

• Campylobacter can also infect other food if raw chicken juices drip onto them.

Considerations

• Chickens also carry salmonella bacteria in their ovaries, which is why eating raw eggs can also lead to food poisoning.