ADangerous trend

John Ensor

MEDIA outlets in Spain are warning of a new food preparation fad that originated in America which could potentially have serious health consequences.

In what is called a dangerous viral trend that is starting to gain acceptance around the world, Spanish health authorities have had to issue a warning not to follow the advice of certain influencers as the likelihood is it will make you ill.

There has been much debate in Spain about the practice of preparing chicken prior to cooking. It is not that they wash the chicken with a little water before putting it in a casserole, the new trend is to actually use soap to clean it. A practice which they claim helps get rid of impurities during cooking.

The reality is it has the exact opposite effect. It actually releases bacteria out of the chicken and contaminates the kitchen. Chicken is usually cooked unwashed, and any bacteria will disappear under high cooking temperatures. If the chicken is washed with soap, any bacteria is spread from the sink to the kitchen.

In the US, health authori­ ties here have already warned that it can cause diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and, in extreme cases, even high fever. Consumers have been urged not to copy this trend.

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