If you enjoy chitlins at holiday time, you know that cooked chitlins are safe to eat. But, you may not know that bacteria from raw chitlins (also called "chitterlings") can cause severe diarrhea, especially in infants. Every year, children get sick in homes where chitlins are prepared, even if they didn't eat them.

In fact, last year in DeKalb County, seven infants and one adult became ill in homes where chitlins were prepared. The babies were exposed to the bacteria after someone handling raw chitlins touched their bottle or the bottle was placed in a sink where chitlins were cleaned.

"Although most people know that chitlins must be carefully cleaned, few realize that the bacteria from raw chitlins can cause illness by spreading to other foods, baby bottles, pacifiers and toys. Infants and small children are at greatest risk of becoming infected," warns Wanda Jallow, R.N., communicable disease nurse at the DeKalb County Board of Health.

Raw chitlins may contain bacteria such as Yersinia. Unlike most bacteria, Yersinia survives cold temperatures and can grow inside the refrigerator. Even those chitlins sold as "pre-cleaned" need boiling and cleaning at home before they are cooked. Bacteria can easily spread to refrigerators, sinks, countertops, cooking utensils and other surfaces, either directly or from the hands of the person who is cleaning the chitlins.

Infection with bacteria from raw chitlins can cause a disease called enterocolitis, whose symptoms are fever, appendicitis-like stomach pain and bloody diarrhea. Infants and children with enterocolitis can become severely dehydrated and may need to be hospitalized. The symptoms usually begin three to seven days after contact with the bacteria.

Here are five easy steps to prevent illness from bacteria in raw chitlins:

1. Boil raw chitlins for five minutes before cleaning them. This does not affect the taste and will kill harmful bacteria, preventing them from spreading around the kitchen.

2. Always wash hands after touching raw chitlins and before touching anything or anyone else.

3. While the chitlins are boiling, wash everything in the kitchen that they touched. For cleaning the kitchen, use one tablespoon of bleach mixed in a gallon of water.

4. Clean the chitlins only after they have been boiled.

5. Cook cleaned chitlins as always, and enjoy!

For more information about safely preparing chitlins, call Wanda Jallow, R.N., DeKalb County Board of Health at (404) 294-3854. For information about Board of Health services, call (404) 294-3700.

###