Is it safe to eat chicken, poultry, and eggs?
Yes, eating properly cooked poultry, as well as eggs, is safe. The U.S. government has banned imported poultry from countries affected by bird flu. At the present time, bird flu is not present in the U.S. For protection against many types of food borne diseases, such as Salmonella, all poultry should be cooked to 165 F or hotter. Cooking also destroys flu viruses. Eggs from infected poultry could be contaminated with the virus, so avoid eating raw or lightly cooked eggs in such foods as raw cookie dough, homemade mayonnaise, and dressings made with raw eggs. For more information on safe food preparations, visit the federal Food and Drug Administration.
