Ate chicken that should've been cooked - panic!

MrBrindle

Hi all,

First of all, feel like a complete idiot for doing this mistake. I don't buy things like his often so probably should've checked the packaging properly.

Anyway, popped into coop after work and picked up some chicken pakoras - they looked like those little ready to eat bites you can buy in other supermarkets, they were with the onion bhajis, samosas etc. Was hungry, and just felt like something for the way home.

Took one bite, then thought, actually do these need cooking/heating? And to my horror, there's nothing on it that says 'ready to eat' or 'eat cold' and it's got cooking instructions on the back - cook in oven for 12-15 mins - ensure food is piping hot.

I opened up all the others and all the chicken is cooked through in each one - not that makes a difference I suppose.....

I suffer from anxiety, so I don't know if I'm overly panicking right now, although I am thinking of salmonella, food poisoning, hospital job etc etc. Major catastrophising.

Just made myself sick as well, but impossible to say if it all came up, and like it says online it only takes a little bit of contaminated chicken to give you salmonella.

How worried should I be?

mumf

You will know within an hour or so.Drink plenty of water,and dont worry.If you start being ill,simply call for help.

Nargleblast

Usually those snacks things are precooked and you heat them through because they are eaten hot. I don't think you have much to worry about, you say you took just one bite. Your stomach acid will help fight any bugs, and you will know before the night is over if it was dodgy or not. If you do feel nauseous or start vomiting remember to drink plenty of fluids, and if you end up needing medical attention, take a sample of what you ate with you so it can be checked out. However, I still doubt if you have cause to worry. You could go on the shop's website and check the details of the item for reassurance.

Callie22

I think you're panicking a bit too much. The chicken wasn't raw - 12-15 minutes would not be sufficient to cook it through if it was. The pakora has presumably also already been cooked once, so the instructions really relate to heating the product up and crisping the outside, so that it's more pleasant to eat since those kinds of snacks tend to go a bit flabby when they're chilled. You're probably going to make yourself feel more unwell by making yourself sick (and from the anxiety) than from the pakora. Keep yourself sensibly hydrated and you'll be fine.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Don’t go too far from the closet!

No seriously, you will find that ready meal foods like this are pre cooked, and you then warm them at home. No more harm th@n sweeping a chinkie on Saturday morning after a decent wobbkeade session on Friday night.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

You'll be fine. They only have heating (not cooking) instructions to make them hot and crispy.

JIL

I'm sure the chicken was already cooked, pakoras are made from a batter dropped into hot oil. They could not have been raw. I'm sure you will be fine.