Washing chicken before cooking may spread potentially fatal bacteria, leading the meat to have food poisoning, Agence France-Presse reported.
Health experts warned British consumers against rinsing their raw chicken on Monday.
The warning was aimed at the 44 percent of Britons who wash raw chicken before cooking it, according to a survey by Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA). The practice, contrary to common belief, could be behind thousands of cases of food poisoning.
Many cooks have believed that rinsing helps to clean the meat, research conducted by the FSA revealed.
Washing raw chicken can spread campylobacter bacteria, the most common cause of food poisoning in Britain. However, just 28 percent of the 4,540 adults surveyed had heard of the disease.
Family tradition and removing dirt and bacteria were the two most common reasons given for washing chicken.
In fact, the practice can spread the dangerous bacteria on to hands, clothing and surfaces, the FSA said.
"The food body has made the campaign against washing chicken the focus of its 2014 Food Safety Week, writing an open letter to cooking show producers to ask them to stop the washing of chicken on TV," according to AFP.
"Campylobacter can cause abdominal pain, severe diarrhea and vomiting, and in some cases death. Those most at risk are children and older people."
Campylobacter, which can also cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, finds its main source to come from poultry. It can also leave victims paralyzed.
"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," FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said.
"Although people tend to follow recommended practice when handling poultry, such as washing hands after touching raw chicken and ensuring it is thoroughly cooked, our research found washing raw chicken is also common practice."
