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Avoiding bird flu

A few precautions while buying, cleaning or cooking chicken

Cooked chicken is safe to eat

The bird flu scare drove chicken off the menu in many homes and restaurants. Panic and conflicting messages coming from public authorities partly fuelled the mass boycott of chicken. Some government agencies said it was safe to eat chicken, while the railways and the military stopped buying chicken.

It is unlikely that we will prevent or cure bird flu anytime soon, and it is even more unlikely that the public will keep off Chicken Biryani or Chicken Tikka Masala until this happens. Sooner or later the public will go back to eating chicken. Is there a safe way of doing it?

Cooked chicken is safe to eat. Yes, we've all heard this a million times by now. But unless we eat only take-out, we will handle raw chicken while buying, cleaning or cooking it. And the same goes for eggs. The good news is that precautions to avoid contracting bird flu are basically what every person purchasing, cleaning or cooking chicken ought to be doing anyway in daily life-bird flu or not.

Avoid touching live chicken and chicken faeces. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling uncooked chicken and raw eggs. Wash utensils similarly; use separate knives and cutting boards for chicken and vegetables. Store uncooked chicken in the freezer or in the bottom compartments of the refrigerator as far as possible. Wash eggs in running water before storing them in the refrigerator. Do not eat raw or soft-boiled eggs. Cook eggs until the white and yolk are firm. Cook chicken thoroughly before consumption. The centre of the flesh must reach 70°C for at least two minutes. If the marrow of the chicken bone is still red, the dish requires more cooking. Tandoori chicken may not be safe if the centre of the meat is only semi-cooked, as is often the case.

Poultry handlers and butchers are at most risk, but handling meat is not unsafe if you take basic precautions like wearing gloves and by washing hands frequently. Avoid sniffing meat to tell if it is fresh. The virus is present in the chicken's gut, so avoid cutting entrails.

RAJIV. M

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