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Over 51 per cent of Aussies are putting themselves at more risk of food poisoning by washing their chicken before they cook it, experts warn. Chicken has a higher risk of giving people food poisoning due to the presence of Salmonella and E. coli, and it has to be fully cooked before eating. As a result, many Aussies take what they believe to be extra precautions by washing uncooked chicken before cooking it, according to the Food Safety Information Council. READ MORE: Australia shuts Philippines embassy as 'super typhoon' claims lives This number is up to 51 per cent according to a new study, and while people may be turning to chicken as a cheaper option as cost-of-living pressures bite, the council has now warned this may in fact put Aussies more at risk of food poisoning for one key reason. "Despite what you've been told or seen on social media, you should never wash raw chicken before cooking as this will likely spread bacteria throughout your kitchen, increasing the risk of foodborne illness," Associate Professor Julian Cox said. "Chicken already undergoes washing during processing so further washing in your kitchen is problematic." Instead, Cox offered several pieces of advice for people storing or preparing chicken in order to keep themselves safe from food poisoning. READ MORE: Australia's social media ban comes into effect next month. Here is what it will look like "Defrost poultry in the fridge or microwave in a container which prevents juices dripping on other food or working surfaces [and] make sure frozen poultry is defrosted right through to the centre before cooking," he said. "Make sure the raw poultry juices do not contaminate other food, especially food like desserts or salads that won't be cooked again before eating." He warns of the impact of food poisoning, including of the hidden impacts it has on the Australian economy. "Authorities estimate there are 4.67 million cases of food poisoning in Australia each year," Cox said. "That results in 47,900 hospitalisations, 38 deaths and a cost to the economy of $3 billion." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
