Home / Life Don’t wash your raw chicken, says the CDC But Twitter users disagree, hard. By Heather Marcoux May 1, 2019 Rectangle Do you wash your chicken before you cook it? The CDC really doesn’t want you to and has sparked a big debate online. This week the CDC warned against washing raw chicken, noting that doing so can cause food poisoning as “chicken juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate other foods, utensils, and countertops,” and the warning started a Twitter controversy. Don’t wash your raw chicken! Washing can spread germs from the chicken to other food or utensils in the kitchen.… https://t.co/IcsYumJd8R — CDC (@CDCgov)1556294764.0 Many home cooks on Twitter were quick to dismiss the CDC’s advice, noting that washing raw chicken is a pretty common practice in many homes. “Sorry, I follow the rules of my 92-year-old mother’s kitchen. They haven’t failed me yet,” one woman wrote. “Or, hear me out, what if we wash the utensils and sink after washing the chicken,” tweeted another cook. @CDCgov Sorry, I follow the rules of my 92-year old mother’s kitchen. They haven’t failed me yet. — Myrna Manners (@myrnamanners)1556368386.0 After a deluge of responses from committed chicken washers, the CDC issued a response: “We didn’t mean to get you all hot about not washing your chicken! But it’s true: kill germs by cooking chicken thoroughly, not washing it. You shouldn’t wash any poultry, meat, or eggs before cooking. They can all spread germs around your kitchen. Don’t wing food safety!” We didn’t mean to get you all hot about not washing your chicken! But it’s true: kill germs by cooking chicken thor… https://t.co/hUqTWbkkju — CDC (@CDCgov)1556567936.0 The CDC is taking a light tone In its response but is pretty clear about one thing: The best practice is to just cook raw chicken without washing it. As long as you cook it to an internal temperature of 165°F it’s safe, the germs are cooked off and not spread to your sink or other prep areas. You might also like: CDC’s breast pump cleaning guidelines–what working mamas need to know It’s National Immunization Week and America’s top docs have a message for vaccine-hesitant parents Why the AAP is telling parents not to put plastic bowls, cups + plates in dishwasher Related Stories Life Dear Google Calendar: This is NOT a healthy relationship Parenting Hindsight: What I wish I would have known as a first-time parent Postpartum Products 14 nursing Shirts that feel anything but frumpy The latest Getting Pregnant 10 foods to increase sperm count, according to a dietitian Home & Food Shopping Guides Want to try mushroom coffee? Here’s what you need to know Pregnancy Eggs during pregnancy First Trimester 14 first-trimester snacks you can actually stomach, according to a nutritionist