what happens if you eat spoiled chicken

Like any food, you need to make sure that your chicken is safe to eat before digging in. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are roughly one million cases of poultry-related food poisoning every year. Not only that, but poultry was connected to more U.S. foodborne illness deaths than any other food commodity between 1998 and 2008 (via Emerging Infectious Diseases).

While some of these cases are due to eating raw or undercooked chicken, you also can get sick from chicken that has spoiled. Common food poisoning symptoms range from nausea and vomiting to weakness, muscle aches, chills, and even fever — and they may not start until weeks afterward. Knowing how to tell if chicken has gone bad will help avoid an experience thats unpleasant at best.

This is especially important when you consider that U.S. chicken consumption has exploded over the last 60-plus years. According to the National Chicken Council, the average American is projected to chow down on 102.3 pounds of chicken in 2024. Thats an increase of 365% from the 28 pounds per person in 1960! With so many ways to enjoy chicken — from classics like fried chicken and chicken noodle soup to Cornell chicken and other more modern creations — its no wonder people have come to love their chicken.

However, that means many more opportunities for something to go wrong. Lets look at 10 signs of spoiled chicken that will keep you and others from devouring rotten meat.

Eating spoiled chicken can cause foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. Chicken has a high risk of causing food poisoning, as it may be contaminated with bacteria like Campylobacter, Salmonella, and more (4). Normally, these bacteria are eliminated when you cook fresh chicken thoroughly.

The purchase and expiration dates have passed

Sometimes, you dont even need to open the package to determine if your chicken is rotten. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mandates that all thermally proceed formed of chicken, such as the lunch bowls and pouches you find at the grocery store deli, must have accurate packing dates and use-by dates. More than 20 individual states also call for at least some other form of “Open Dating” — i.e. an easily readable calendar date — on other forms of chicken

For these chicken products, the month and day must be listed along with a short description of what it refers to, such as “Sell By” or “Best if Used By.” The year is also required if a product is frozen or shelf-stable. Although the chicken could still be edible after a use-by or expiration date has passed, the quality will have started to decline, so youll want to verify whether its still good.

Beware that some states still have few if any requirements for food dating. Should this be the case in your area, there are two things to consider. First, any date applied voluntarily must be accurate if the food is packaged under the auspices of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Second, regardless of the packaging date, FoodSafety.gov has issued its own recommendations for how soon to use chicken. This includes preparing raw chicken within 1-2 days of purchase when stored in the refrigerator. If you dont think youre going to use the chicken by the provided date or in this time frame, you can move it to the freezer to extend its shelf life.

Your chicken smells funny

How should raw chicken smell? If its still okay to eat, it shouldnt smell like much of anything. Ediths Bistro has described the odor of raw chicken as being slightly sweet or metallic, but not overly strong. Therefore, any sort of strong or pungent smell is usually a sign of spoilage — it means enough bacteria has grown that the chicken has begun to decompose. As one Reddit commenter put it, “Bad chicken smells BAD. Youd probably know it.”

That said, some of you might need more specifics, especially if were talking about prepared chicken piled high with spices, sauces, and other add-ons that can mask odors. The biggest thing to whiff around for is an odor resembling rotten eggs or sulfur. Others have compared it to ammonia, general sourness, or dirty dish towels. Whatever the scent, its caused by the growing concentration of spoilage bacteria — which can grow even at cold temperatures, which is why refrigerated chicken still goes bad eventually. (These same bacteria are what create the sliminess mentioned earlier.)

The smell of rotten chicken has disrupted on a large scale, too. In 2022, Costcos official chicken supplier in Nebraska started selling leftover chicken parts to area farmers as compost (via Insider). Area residents immediately began complaining about the “smell of death.” Just imagine that in your fridge!

What Happens If You Eat Rotten Chicken?

FAQ

Does cooking spoiled chicken make it safe?

How long after eating expired chicken do you get sick?

Is it OK to cook chicken that smells a little?

What happens if you eat spoiled chicken?

Spoiled chicken can contain dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, leading to foodborne illnesses. Cooking spoiled chicken can destroy Salmonella and E. coli, and toxins will remain in the meat, making bad chicken unsafe to eat. There are many diseases that you may get if you eat spoiled chicken. You can suffer from cramps and fever.

What happens if you eat chicken with salmonella?

If you consume raw or under-cooked chicken that is contaminated with salmonella bacteria, it may cause a host of symptoms including diarrhea, which can cause dehydration. Other symptoms include stomach cramping, chills, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Some people infected with salmonella may not experience symptoms. Pregnant women, those with weakened immunity, older adults, and young children are at higher risk of foodborne illness and the negative effects from consuming chicken contaminated with salmonella.

What happens if you eat chicken that has gone bad?

If you accidentally eat chicken that has gone bad, don’t worry, it’s not a fatal mistake. You may get salmonella or E. coli poisoning which can be very uncomfortable to experience, but are generally not life threatening on their own.

When is it safe to eat spoiled chicken?

Argyris Magoulas, a specialist at the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, spoke to INSIDER about when chicken is safe to eat and when it’s spoiled. Here are three ways to tell if chicken is past its prime. The USDA recommends that cuts of chicken or meat that is ground should be used within one-to-two days of purchase.