Salmonella
By: Cara Kirkman, Anna Rorrer
What Is It?
- Salmonella is a bacteria that occurs mainly in the intestines, especially a stereotype causing food poisoning.
Where It Comes From
- Salmonella is commonly found in raw foods that come from animals such as eggs, egg products, meat, meat products, unpasteurized milk, or other unpasteurized dairy products.
Sources
- Food: contaminate the eggs, poultry, meat, unpasteurized milk or juice, cheese, contaminated raw fruits or vegetables, spices and nuts.
- Animals and their environment: Particularly reptiles, amphibians, birds, and pet food/treats.
Who Is Most Likely To Get It?
- Salmonella affects young children, infants, and older adults, and people who have impaired immune systems. More common in the summer and winter.
How To Prevent It
- Avoid eating high risk foods including: raw or lightly cooked eggs, under cooked ground beef or poultry, unpasteurized milk.
- Keep food properly refrigerated before cooking.
- Clean hands with soap and warm water before handling food. Clean surfaces before preparing food on them.
- Separate cooked foods from ready to eat foods. Do not use utensils on cooked foods that were previously used on raw foods and do not place cooked foods on plates where raw foods once were unless it has been cleaned thoroughly.
- Cook foods to a safe internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to a safe temperature.
- Chill foods promptly after serving and when transporting from one place to another.
- Wash your hands after contact with animals, their food or treats, or their living environment.
More Information
- Incubation Period: 12-72 hours
- Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.
- Duration Of Illness: 4-7 days
- What Do I Do: Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Antibiotics can be necessary if the infection spread from the intestines to the blood stream. Or call your doctor if really severe.
The Bacteria
Hazardous Foods
Salmonella Food Graph
This graph shows the foods that most cause people to get Salmonella.