A deadly bacteria more common than salmonella is being spread by washing meat before cooking it.
The body responsible for food safety in the UK is warning unsuspecting parents who rinse chicken in an effort to remove germs are actually spreading the Campylobacter bacteria.
It can cause diarrhoea and vomiting and those most at risk are the elderly and children under-5.
Despite being the most common form of bacteria affecting around 280,000 Brits a year, only 28% of people have heard of it.
In severe cases it can lead to amputations and even prove fatal.
The Food Standards Agency is warning the 44% of people who say they always wash chicken before cooking it to think again.
The bacteria can lead to irritable bowel syndrome, severe arthritis and other conditions.
Ann Edwards from Hertfordshire contracted Campylobacter in 1997 and developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious condition of the nervous system. .
The 67-year-old said: “I was ill for a week before being admitted to hospital with bladder failure. I couldn’t eat and was so de-hydrated that I lost almost two stone in weight.
“Shortly after I developed Guillain-Barré syndrome which left me paralysed from the chest down and I was in hospital for seven weeks.
“Even now 17 years later I have no movement in my toes and rely on a walking stick.
“It has been the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
Campylobacter can be found in raw meat and milk products. Around four in five cases come from contaminated poultry.
Washing raw chicken can spread the bacteria onto hands, work surfaces, clothing and cooking equipment through the splashing of water droplets.
The FSA has written to production companies which make TV programmes such as the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and Channel Four’s Sunday Brunch asking them to ensure presenters and celebrity chefs are not shown washing raw chicken.
The letter has been signed by most major food retailers.
Catherine Brown, chief executive of the FSA, said: “Campylobacter is a serious issue.
“Not only can it cause severe illness and death, but it costs the economy hundreds of millions of pounds a year as a result of sickness absence and the burden on the NHS.
“Although people tend to follow recommended practice when handling poultry - such as washing hands after touching raw chicken and making sure it is thoroughly cooked - our research has found that washing raw chicken is also common practice.
“That’s why we’re calling on people to stop washing raw chicken and also raising awareness of the risks as a result of cross-contamination.
“We are committed to acting on Campylobacter and providing safer food for the nation.”
A survey commissioned by the FSA found more than 90% of the public had heard of salmonella and E. coli, whereas only 28% of people knew about Campylobacter.
The most cited reasons people gave for washing chicken were the removal of dirt (36%), getting rid of germs (36%) and because they had always done it (33%).
The warning comes at the start of Food Safety Week.