7-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) An American man, known only as John, who documents his raw chicken diet experiment on Instagram, has garnered hundreds of thousands of followers. However, medical experts and health authorities caution that his experiment could lead to severe illness or death.
Hailing from Florida and aged 35, John has been consuming raw chicken pieces and washing them down with raw eggs for 18 consecutive days since January 20.
“I just take it from the package. I don’t wash it,” he revealed to The Straits Times in a February 5 interview.
John’s experiment has attracted over 340,000 followers and millions of views on Instagram, with each post receiving thousands of largely critical comments.
“What kills him first? The chicken or the egg?” quipped Instagram user Matt Hoffmann.
Another user, JJ Balvanz, expressed concern, stating, “One day he’s not going to post, and we’re all going to know what happened.”
Despite facing backlash, John remains committed to his experiment, even after being admonished by numerous doctors. “They tend to say: You are stupid, you are going to die,” he admitted.
Despite warnings, John persists with his experiment, citing his previous consumption of raw chicken about 10 times in recent years without any adverse effects.
He intends to continue the diet until he experiences discomfort.
The US Food and Drug Administration has cautioned that individuals infected with foodborne bacteria from consuming raw food may not exhibit symptoms immediately, as they can arise up to six weeks later.
Dr. Mohamed Baisal, a general practitioner from Shifa Clinic in Singapore, expressed concern about John’s experiment, given his wide Instagram following.
“Bacteria found in raw chicken, such as salmonella, campylobacter, and clostridium perfringens, can cause severe infections leading to organ damage, including the kidneys and liver, and in some cases, even death,” Dr. Baisal warned.
The Singapore Food Agency echoed these concerns, highlighting the serious health risks associated with consuming raw meat.
It urges the public to adhere to food safety guidelines, including cooking chicken thoroughly to eliminate harmful bacteria.
Dr. Baisal emphasized, “Our bodies and minds are not worth the possible serious consequences of such hazardous experiments. Trying to prove science wrong, in the name of science, is not a scientific pursuit.”
