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USDA Report Urges Americans To Stop Washing Chicken, Increases Risk Of Illnesses, Contaminating Other Foods

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Department of Agriculture is warning everyone to stop washing your chicken. The agency says you can get sick by washing chicken because of cross-contamination.

The USDA's report is the latest research that connects washing or rinsing poultry with an increased risk of becoming sick. Raw chicken often is contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria, as well as salmonella and Clostridium perfringens bacteria.

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To stay safe, health experts suggest prepping everything else first, then the chicken.

Experts also say you should wipe down anything that the chicken touched, and make sure you cook the chicken to the proper temperature.

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 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered steps you can take to help prevent illness connected to chicken cross-contamination.

For those steps, click here.

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