The public is often advised to adhere to certain precautions when handling raw poultry in your kitchen to prevent the illnesses from Salmonella.
But what exactly is the best way to handle raw poultry on baggage carousels at airports?
Sound like a goofy question? Well, it is, but I asked this question for a reason. An incident like this actually happened in Seattle, Washington.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) posted on Instagram a video of a block of raw chicken parts taking a spin amid all of the suitcases. It would appear it started out in a cooler, given the almost perfect rectangular shape of the block, and it would also appear that it was at least partially still frozen, enabling it to remain in that perfect shape.
While really only the legs of one person at the carousel are shown, people are surprisingly nonchalant about what they are seeing.
Along with the video, TSA offered advice on how to travel with raw meat and poultry. And it had a little fun in doing so, using about every imaginable poultry pun possible.
The post read: “There is a personal fowl on the carousel…
“Can chickens fly? Well… assuredly no poultry is flying like this. We hear at one time these wings and thighs were cooped up in a cooler. Somewhere between baggage and the carousel they became free range.
“Don’t wing your travel packing. In order to keep from ruffling any feathers meat should be properly packaged. Ice or dry ice is permitted to keep the flock chilled.
“If you are pecking around the internet for travel tidbits, nest time reach out to our hens and roosters at #AskTSA. They’ll take your raw travel questions and cook out an egg-cellent answer.”
I could add to the jokes, but I think TSA did a pretty good job of that already.
However, it would be interesting to learn what the person flying with the poultry did when it was discovered in its uncontained state. It would also be interesting to learn just what sanitation measures had to be taken at the airport once that chicken was claimed.
Let’s hope people saw past the jokes and the TSA’s advice is heeded.
