Is it safe to eat a sealed package of fully cooked chicken sausage that was left out overnight if you cook it?

According to the USDA, perishable foods, including cooked chicken sausage, should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. This is because bacteria can grow rapidly in the temperature danger zone, which is between 40°F and 140°F. Even if you plan to cook the chicken sausage, it is not safe to assume that this will kill all of the bacteria that may have grown on it. Some bacteria, such as _Staphylococcus aureus_ (staph), can produce heat-resistant toxins that can cause food poisoning even if the food is cooked to a safe internal temperature.

To be safe, it is best to discard any perishable food that has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours.