Spouse abstains from consuming chicken that had been left in a car for extended hours, inciting a discussion on food safety: 'Unenthusiastic'
In a recent incident, a man expressed concern about a chicken his wife had left in the trunk of their car all afternoon. Despite going back-and-forth, the wife continued preparing the chicken, but the man refused to eat it, citing fears of food poisoning.
The wife described the chicken as "cool to the touch," but experts warn that leaving raw meat, such as chicken, in a car for several hours poses a significant food safety risk. According to Bryan Quoc Le, a food scientist, the risk in this Reddit situation is "very high."
Le explained that the temperature inside a car, even on a not-particularly warm day, can easily rise to the "danger zone" - between 4°C and 60°C (40°F and 140°F) - where bacteria such as Salmonella can grow rapidly. Experts recommend keeping raw meat refrigerated at or below 4°C (40°F) and never letting it remain in the danger zone for more than 2 hours.
Bacteria grow exponentially every 20 minutes at temperatures above refrigeration levels. Even thorough cooking may not eliminate heat-resistant toxins produced by bacteria during that time. Thus, cooking the chicken fully after leaving it out does not guarantee safety, as toxins may remain and cause food poisoning.
Many Reddit users affirmed the husband's fears, with over 2,000 agreeing that it would be safer to discard the chicken to avoid the risk of foodborne illness. Chef Paul Wahlberg, brother of Mark and Donnie Wahlberg, echoed this sentiment, showcasing Wahlburgers' wings on FOX Square.
Andrea Margolis, a lifestyle writer, also agreed, stating that it's not worth the risk, and a single chicken is not expensive compared to food poisoning. However, not everyone shared the same opinion. One user who worked in restaurants for two decades said they would have eaten the chicken.
Another user argued that everyone in the comments was overreacting about the chicken. But Le reiterated that bacteria leave behind heat-resistant toxins, which can be a problem. In the end, the wife left "in search of another chicken from the store," and the man suggested that he could make something simple for his dinner.
The top comment on the thread stated, "You know what's worse than throwing out a chicken? Food poisoning." It's a lesson learned the hard way for this couple, emphasizing the importance of food safety and proper handling of raw meat.
[1] Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2019). Keep Food Safe During a Power Outage. Retrieved from https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handle/safe-food-handle/ct_index
[3] Quoc Le, B. (2021). Food Safety and Preservation. Academic Press.
- Maintaining awareness about food safety is crucial, especially when handling perishable items like raw chicken, as excessive warmth can lead to rapid bacterial growth, potentially causing health-and-wellness issues such as food poisoning.
- In the realm of science and food-and-drink, it's crucial to follow recommended therapies-and-treatments, such as refrigerating raw meat at or below 4°C (40°F) and never letting it remain in the danger zone (4°C-60°C or 40°F-140°F) for more than 2 hours, to ensure lifestyle safety and prevent foodborne illnesses.
