You CAN get food poisoning from chicken.

If you eat undercooked chicken, you run the risk of contracting Salmonella. Salmonella can also spread on hands and surfaces if not washed properly. For example, if you prepare raw chicken on a cutting board and then use the cutting board to cut up vegetables for a salad, you run the risk of contaminating the salad ingredients with Salmonella.

What Is Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that infects chickens, pigs, and cattle. It is most often found in raw milk, undercooked poultry, and eggs. When ingested, Salmonella causes a bacterial infection called salmonellosis. Every year there are over 40,000 Salmonellosis cases in the United States alone with more than 400 reported deaths.

How to Kill Salmonella

Caution when handling raw meat will help to prevent the spread of the Salmonella bacteria. Wash hands thoroughly as well as any surfaces that have come in contact with raw meat. Avoid eating raw foods that can potentially harbor the Salmonella bacteria such as undercooked meat, raw eggs, or unpasteurized milk. This would include avoiding foods that contain raw eggs such as Hollandaise sauce or cookie dough. Wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with reptiles and birds such as lizards and baby chicks. Small children are more susceptible to contracting Salmonella and should avoid contact all together.