Hot food options at grocery stores, like rotisserie chickens, are a popular choice for many consumers looking for a quick and delicious meal. However, as Rebecca Taylor of KOLD News 13 reports, these convenient meals can sometimes pose a risk to your health if not handled properly.
Concerns Over Heat Lamp Duration
A Tucson resident expressed concern to KOLD News 13 about the length of time rotisserie chickens are kept under heat lamps. She noticed that some chickens had been sitting under the heat since nine in the morning, still available for purchase late in the afternoon. This raises questions about the safety of such food items.
Food Safety Guidelines and Store Procedures
Amanda Anderson, the Consumer Health and Food Safety Manager with the Pima County Health Department, explained that food safety regulations regarding rotisserie chickens depend largely on the store’s procedures. According to Anderson, stores can either maintain a temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for an indefinite period or use time as a control, allowing the chicken to be kept for a maximum of four hours at any temperature. After this period, the chicken must be discarded if it is below the safe temperature threshold.
The Importance of Temperature and Time
Bacteria can grow on food kept below 135 degrees Fahrenheit, making it potentially unsafe to eat after four hours. Anderson emphasized that chickens kept in warmers below this temperature for extended periods cannot be repurposed or sold. However, if the temperature is maintained at 135 degrees or higher, stores can continue to sell the chicken indefinitely.
Customer Concerns About Quality
A customer interviewed by KOLD News 13 highlighted the challenges of finding a fresh rotisserie chicken. She had to visit multiple stores before finding one that met her standards. This experience underscores the difficulty some consumers face in ensuring the freshness and safety of their purchases.
Expert Advice for Safe Consumption
Professor Sadhana Ravishankar, a food safety expert at the University of Arizona, provided some practical advice for consumers. She recommends selecting rotisserie chickens that are fully sealed, checking the time label to see how long the chicken has been out, and choosing the hottest one available. These steps can help reduce the risk of purchasing an unsafe product.
Inconsistent Labeling Practices
During their investigation, KOLD News 13 found that some stores, like Bashas’, did not provide specific time markings on their rotisserie chickens, only a “sell by” date. This practice is acceptable as long as the temperature is maintained at 135 degrees or higher, but it leaves consumers uncertain about the freshness of their purchase.
The Role of Health Inspections
Anderson clarified that while the health department does not inspect the warmers themselves, they do check the temperature of food in various parts of the warmer to ensure it is uniformly safe. However, this still leaves some ambiguity for consumers who want to be certain their food is safe.
Calls for Greater Transparency
Consumers are calling for more transparency in how grocery stores handle rotisserie chickens. One customer expressed her desire for clear time limits on how long chickens can stay under heat lamps, emphasizing the importance of not making her family sick.
Expert Tips for Safe Storage at Home
To further reduce the risk of foodborne illness, Professor Ravishankar advises consumers to bring their rotisserie chicken home immediately, refrigerate it within two hours (sooner if it’s a hot day), and consume it within five days. Alternatively, freezing the chicken before this time can also help ensure its safety.
“Cheap, Fast, Good”
People in the comments shared their thoughts: “People who don’t like it should buy raw chicken and cook it themselves”
One commenter added: “Cheap, fast, good. You can get 2 of the 3. People over here spending $6 on a whole chicken and acting like it needs to be the best of the best”
Another person said: “Sure do. I buy them cause they are cheaper cooked than cold and no mess. I plop it on a plate and eat it with my hands like an animal.”
Potential Risks
While rotisserie chickens offer a convenient meal option, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with improper handling. As consumers, it’s important to be vigilant about the freshness and temperature of these products to ensure they are safe to eat.
Ensuring Food Safety
What are your thoughts? How much trust do you place in the food safety practices of your local grocery stores, and what steps do you take to ensure the safety of the food you purchase? Should grocery stores be required to provide more detailed information about how long hot food items, like rotisserie chickens, have been sitting under heat lamps? Why or why not? Given the potential risks associated with improperly stored hot foods, how do you balance the convenience of buying pre-cooked meals with the need for food safety in your household?
For an in-depth look, view the complete video on KOLD NEWS 13’s YouTube channel here.
