Final answer:
Chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F or 73.9°C to be safe for consumption. A food thermometer should be used to check this temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coldest temperature that chicken must reach before it can be served, ensuring that it is safe to eat, is 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 73.9 degrees Celsius.
This temperature is recommended by food safety guidelines to ensure that any harmful bacteria present in the poultry, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, are killed during the cooking process.
Using a food thermometer is the best way to verify that the chicken has reached this safe internal temperature.