Why does not defrosting something cause food poisoning?

[Colugo]

Why is it that if you do not defrost something before cooking it it causes food poisoning? Surely the food can be cooked to the correct temperature to kill bacteria whether it is cooked from frozen or not?

[Bob A Job]

The only thing that causes 'Food Poisoning' is the presence of dangerous bacteria in food and it not being killed off before ingestion.

The phrase you here all the time is a simplified idiot proof way of saying make sure its cooked through before you eat it. If you cook a frozen chicken breast in the microwave on full power the outside will go hard before the middle is even defrosted. Its the same for a large turkey in an oven. Remember, the core temparature should always get above 75c.

For quality reasons food always turns out nicer if its defrosted. And you should always defrost food in the fridge. You can cook frozen food in the microwave, but start it on low power for a few minutes to raise the temp slowly,

[tetherend]

As Bob a Job says, we are told not to put cooked meat next to uncooked meat.  So, if the outside of the meat cooks and the inside is still frozen, perhaps this creates the bacteria which causes food poisening

[woofgang]

The symptoms of food poisoning are not caused by the actual bacteria but by the toxins that they secrete. If you cook meat from frozen, there is a risk that the bacteria will secrete enough toxin before giving up the ghost to make you feel terrible.