Health experts have advised against the consumption of undercooked chicken intestines by children, citing the risk of worm infection and exposure to zoonotic diseases such as campylobacteriosis.
The experts highlighted the potential for chicken intestines to harbor parasitic worms like roundworms or tapeworms, emphasizing the importance of proper cooking to eliminate these risks.
The experts expressed concerns about parents turning to chicken intestines as a cheaper protein source for their children due to economic challenges.
The World Health Organization warned that undercooked chicken can lead to campylobacteriosis, caused by Campylobacter bacteria commonly found in various animals. The primary route of transmission is through foodborne sources like undercooked meat and contaminated milk.
Health professionals stressed the vulnerability of children to infections from insufficiently cooked chicken intestines due to their developing immune systems and smaller body sizes.
Dr. Ngozi Obiora, a consultant gastroenterologist and surgeon, cautioned that consuming improperly cooked chicken intestines could lead to parasite and worm infestations, emphasizing the importance of thorough cooking to prevent infections.
She noted, “Properly cooked chicken intestines should not cause worm infestations, but consuming undercooked or contaminated chicken, including its intestines, can pose significant health risks, including the transmission of parasites and bacteria.
“To minimise the risk of infection, it is important to cook poultry thoroughly to the appropriate internal temperature and adhere to proper hygiene practices during food preparation.
“It is crucial to cook chicken intestines to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure that any potential parasites are killed.
“Maintaining strict hygiene in the kitchen—such as washing hands and surfaces thoroughly and avoiding cross-contamination—can further reduce the risk of parasitic infections from undercooked poultry.”
A doctor warned that undercooked chicken, especially infected birds, can harbor parasites, and improper food preparation may not adequately sanitize the intestines.
Contamination can also occur during slaughtering when meat comes into contact with bacteria from animal feces.
She advised cooking meat thoroughly until it turns brown, as undercooked meat can lead to parasitic infections, causing symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss. In severe cases, worms may migrate to other organs, causing serious health issues.
However, Professor Godswill Nnaji, a consultant family physician, disagreed, stating that there is no scientific proof that consuming chicken intestines leads to worm infestation, although undercooked chicken can be a risk.
He said, “There are other things that are in chicken intestines including faeces and bacteria but they might react differently to protect the gut and the intestines from being damaged by the bacteria among others. They might be anti-bacteria.
“So, I will believe the thesis when I see it published in a peer-reviewed journal because new knowledge is merging every day. Also note that some people will still be for and against a report published in peer-reviewed journals leading to more research.
“So, I do not want to accept it as scientific until several studies are being conducted no matter how small, to prove this assertion. I need to know in what chicken population it was conducted to arrive at that conclusion. It might be correct but it hasn’t been proven scientifically. That is the point that I am making.”
