Abstract: A chicken meat product rendered substantially free of pathogenic bacterial species by having an external coating of sodium diacetate substantially free of an adhesive material. The wet coating is retained on the external surfaces of the dressed chicken meat by the surface tension of the sodium diacetate solution after the chicken meat is coated with the solution and is hung freely to permit excess liquid to drain away. The amount of sodium diacetate present in the product of the invention depends upon the degree of pathogenic bacterial contamination of the chicken meat. The sodium diacetate is included in each case in sufficient quantity to preserve the meat from growth of all pathogenic bacteria of the order and species of salmonella, E. coli, and campylobacter.