About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated).
Original statement
مع اطهر وسائل الذبح للفراخ دمها بيتلو بالسالمونيلا ... فيها سالمونيلا كاونت اعلى من الطبيعي كام في الم ب نسبه 80 85% من الفراخ
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated).
Origin
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr.D Clinics - Diaa Al Awady is live! (Open source)
- Published
- 16 March 2025
- Timestamp
- not available (transcript has no timings)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); wording may contain transcription errors; no timestamps available.
- Claimed health effect
Salmonellosis.
- Population concerned
general population (not specified)
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Diverging source versions
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- ارتفاع السكر والأسيتون ؟خطر والا ده الطبيعي ؟#ضياء_العوضي (Open source)
- Published
- 23 December 2025
- Timestamp
- not available (transcript has no timings)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive transcript (YouTube CC or AI-generated); wording may contain transcription errors; no timestamps available.
Scientific assessment
Mostly false – Essential parts of the statement are not supported by the evidence or are strongly exaggerated.
Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
80-85% of chickens carry Salmonella.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Salmonella is a common contaminant of raw poultry; poultry and eggs are major sources of human salmonellosis.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
The 80-85% figure is far above EU monitoring (4.9% of fresh broiler meat samples in 2024; I-EGG-14), above the Egyptian study reviewed here (28.6% of mixed samples; I-CHK-09) and above US in-plant testing during a large outbreak, where 26% (116/450) of samples at the three implicated plants and 1% (2/149) at another plant were Salmonella-positive, falling to about 5% after control measures (A-CHK-17). 'Contaminated blood' is not how Salmonella contamination of carcasses is described in the reviewed sources (surface/neck-skin sampling).
4. What remains unclear?
Prevalence in Egyptian retail chicken nationally. In the transcript (video cLSJ-kjyBE4) he names Salmonella explicitly and attributes the number to others ('they said it'). A figure of this size exists for a different pathogen: in the 2008 EU baseline survey, 75.8% of broiler carcasses were contaminated with Campylobacter (Member-State range 4.9-100%) (I-CHK-05). Whether he confused the two pathogens cannot be determined.
5. Which studies support it?
None for the number.
6. Which studies contradict it?
I-EGG-14 (EU 2024), I-CHK-09 (Egypt, lower than claimed), A-CHK-17 (US in-plant testing 1-26%).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
EU 2024: 4.9% of fresh broiler meat samples Salmonella-positive; Salmonella process hygiene criteria and flock reduction targets apply.
8. What is known about Egypt?
One study in El-Sharkia found 120/420 (28.6%) Salmonella-positive samples from broilers, farm environment and carcasses, with 76.7% of isolates multidrug-resistant.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Salmonella on raw chicken is a real but much less frequent risk than claimed in the EU; thorough cooking and preventing cross-contamination are effective.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
EU official monitoring 2024: 4.9% of 'fresh meat from broilers' samples (N = 95,954) Salmonella-positive. Egyptian studies report higher prevalence (120/420 = 28.6% of mixed farm and carcass samples in one province), but no source for 80-85% was found. The figure is not attributed to a specific study in the transcript.
- Source quality
Own words (machine transcript); unsourced number ('هم اللي قالوا').
- Regional transferability
Strongly country-dependent.
- Individual exceptions
Not applicable.
- Regional scope of the claim
- not specified
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
Dr. Elawady said 80 to 85 percent of chickens carry Salmonella. In the EU, official tests in 2024 found Salmonella in about 5 out of 100 samples of fresh chicken meat. A study in one Egyptian province found it in about 29 out of 100 samples from farms and carcasses - higher than in Europe, but far below his figure. Cooking chicken thoroughly kills Salmonella.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (0)
No studies in this group.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (3)
-
EU zoonoses report 2024
EFSA, ECDC. EFSA J 2025 · PMID 41377167 · DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9759Otherindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyCampylobacter and Salmonella are the most common food-borne infections in the EU; about 5% of fresh chicken samples and 0.3% of egg samples had Salmonella.
About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated).
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Occurrence of zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed in the EU, 2024
- How was the study done?
EU surveillance report under Zoonoses Directive 2003/99/EC
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
e.g., 95,954 fresh broiler meat samples; 12,327 egg samples; 27 EU Member States, UK (NI), 8 non-MS
- What was actually found?
Campylobacteriosis 63.7% of confirmed zoonosis cases, salmonellosis second. Salmonella-positive: fresh meat from broilers 4.9%, turkeys 4.7%, eggs and egg products 0.31%. Adult laying-hen flock Salmonella prevalence 4.0%, target serovars 1.6%. Salmonella in eggs and egg products = agent/food pair of most concern; broiler meat most frequently implicated in strong-evidence Campylobacter outbreaks. Campylobacter PHC 1000 CFU/g on neck skin.
- How large was the observed effect?
Descriptive; trend analyses
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Poultry germs are a real but controllable risk.
- What are the study's limitations?
Reporting differences between countries; Operator vs official sampling differ
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports existence of pathogens; contradicts exaggerated prevalence.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Directly EU.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not representative for Egypt.
-
Salmonella in Egyptian broiler chickens
Elkenany R et al.. BMC Vet Res 2019 · PMID 31029108 · DOI 10.1186/s12917-019-1867-zCross-sectional studyindependent cross-checkfull text checkedAbout 29% of retail chicken carcasses and 32% of farm chickens in one Egyptian province had Salmonella, mostly multidrug-resistant.
About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated).
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Prevalence, resistance and virulence genes of Salmonella in broilers and retail carcasses
- How was the study done?
Cross-sectional microbiological survey
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
420 samples from 5 broiler farms and 5 retail shops, El-Sharkia, summer 2017
- What was actually found?
Salmonella in 28.6% of all samples (carcasses 29.4%, cloacal swabs 32%, environment 22%); 76.7% of isolates multidrug-resistant; all resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; none to imipenem.
- How large was the observed effect?
Descriptive
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
In Egypt, careful handling and cooking of chicken is especially important.
- What are the study's limitations?
Only 5 farms and 5 shops in one province, one season; no human data; descriptive only.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports concern but not 80-85%.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Low (Egypt).
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not national.
-
US Salmonella outbreak from one chicken company
Gieraltowski L et al.. PLoS One 2016 · PMID 27631492 · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0162369Outbreak reportcited by the Tayebat archivefull text checked634 people fell ill from resistant Salmonella traced to one company's chicken.
About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated).
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
What caused a large multistate MDR Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak?
- How was the study done?
Outbreak investigation (epidemiological, laboratory, traceback)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
634 cases; 435 interviewed; 634 US case-patients
- What was actually found?
634 sick (38% hospitalised, no deaths); 87% of those with brand data ate Company A chicken; 67% of tested patient isolates resistant, 35% multidrug-resistant; Salmonella in 26% of samples at the implicated plants, down to about 5% after fixes.
- How large was the observed effect?
Descriptive
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Shows why safe handling of raw chicken matters.
- What are the study's limitations?
Single outbreak
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports existence of hazard.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Moderate.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot give routine prevalence in chicken and does not support an 80-85% contamination rate.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (1)
-
EFSA: controlling Campylobacter in broilers
EFSA BIOHAZ Panel. EFSA J 2020 · PMID 32874298 · DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6090Risk assessmentindependent cross-checkfull text checkedFarm measures could reduce human Campylobacter infections from chicken meat substantially.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Effect of on-farm control options on human campylobacteriosis from broiler meat
- How was the study done?
EFSA scientific opinion (PAF modelling, expert knowledge elicitation)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable; EU broiler production
- What was actually found?
In the EU, about 27% of broiler flocks and 37% of fresh broiler meat carry Campylobacter (2008 baseline: 71% of batches, 76% of carcasses); chicken meat may cause 20-30% of human cases. Farm measures could cut broiler-related cases by roughly 7-27% each (very uncertain); a 3-log cut in gut counts by 58%.
- How large was the observed effect?
PAF; EKE
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
The risk is real and can be reduced.
- What are the study's limitations?
Wide uncertainty
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports pathogen claim, not avoidance.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Directly EU.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Exact effect sizes; combined effects; anything about digestibility or gut damage from chicken meat.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Regional context
Germany / EU
EU 2024: 4.9% of fresh broiler meat samples Salmonella-positive; Salmonella process hygiene criteria and flock reduction targets apply.
Egypt
One study in El-Sharkia found 120/420 (28.6%) Salmonella-positive samples from broilers, farm environment and carcasses, with 76.7% of isolates multidrug-resistant.
- Antibiotic (veterinary drug) residues in poultry meat and eggs
- Antimicrobial use in food animals and antibiotic growth promoters
- Hormones in poultry, meat, milk and farmed fish
- Salmonella in laying hens, eggs and broiler chicken
- Import controls and the meaning of RASFF notifications for Egyptian products
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
Mostly false Salmonella in chicken is real, but the claimed 80-85% is not supported by EU or the reviewed Egyptian data.
The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:
- Veterinary medicines and antibiotics
- Hormonal growth promoters
- Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)
- Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.)
- Animal husbandry and feed
- Controls, imports, recalls, labelling
Poultry
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Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.
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References
- The European Union One Health 2024 Zoonoses Report.. EFSA, ECDC. EFSA J 2025 · PMID 41377167 · DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9759
- Antimicrobial resistance profiles and virulence genotyping of Salmonella enterica serovars recovered from broiler chickens and chicken carcasses in Egypt.. Elkenany R et al.. BMC Vet Res 2019 · PMID 31029108 · DOI 10.1186/s12917-019-1867-z
- National Outbreak of Multidrug Resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Infections Linked to a Single Poultry Company.. Gieraltowski L et al.. PLoS One 2016 · PMID 27631492 · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0162369
- Update and review of control options for Campylobacter in broilers at primary production.. EFSA BIOHAZ Panel. EFSA J 2020 · PMID 32874298 · DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6090