When NPR’s food blog, The Salt proclaimed, “Julia Child Got it Wrong”, the cooks of the world took notice. Based on Jennifer Quinlan’s research at Drexel University, food safety experts are spreading the word, “Don’t Wash Your Chicken”, thanks to free videos and printable resources.
Quinlan teamed with Extension media developers at New Mexico State University to create four mini-dramas, cooking demos and photo-novellas (comic books) helping a audiences learn why washing chicken can be so hazardous (hint: the bacteria aerosolizes and spreads beyond the expected ‘splash zone’.)
Surprisingly, people feel really strongly about chicken-washing: the myth of chicken washing has been handed down from family members, from one loved one to another. The mini-dramas show how easy it is to give this research-backed advice to a spouse, child or even a parent, and the cooking videos share some delicious chicken recipes.
News of the research spread virally, the YouTube germ-spread video surpassed half a million views last week, and national newspapers and media covered the story.