In addition to Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi, there are more than 2,200 known Salmonella serotypes. Most are pathogenic. Salmonella is one of the top two recognized bacterial causes of foodborne disease (Campylobacter is the other).
Some history
The first non-typhoidal Salmonella to be isolated was the agent that causes hog cholera – Salmonella Cholerae-suis – described initially in 1885. Each new Salmonella was, at first, named for the disease syndrome; then, as the apparently different “species” became more numerous, they were named for the location (city, state or country) where they were first reported (e.g., Salmonella London, Salmonella Tennessee, Salmonella Java)
What is Salmonella, and where is its natural habitat?
Salmonella inhabits the intestinal tract of virtually all species of insects, warm-blooded animals, fish, reptiles and birds around the world. With just a few exceptions – and humans are the main exceptions – the microbe causes no illness to its animal host.
How is Salmonella transmitted? What is the incubation period of the infection?
Salmonella is transmitted most often through the consumption of contaminated food or water, or by hand-to-mouth contact with a carrier animal, reptile or insect. Secondary person-to-person transmission also can occur. The incubation period usually is 1 to 3 days.
What illnesses are caused by Salmonella? How long does it take to develop?
Salmonella infections most often cause salmonellosis – a form of gastroenteritis. Symptoms usually develop in 1 to 3 days following ingestion of an infective dose of the bacteria, and typically last from 4 to 7 days.
What are the symptoms of salmonellosis?
Symptoms of non-typhoidal Salmonella infections (salmonellosis) usually include diarrhea, fever, cramps and vomiting.
What is the prognosis of Salmonella infections?
The disease is largely self-limiting; however, some patients experience secondary consequences, including endocarditis or bacteremia. Osteomyelitis also is an occasional complication, as is Reiter’s syndrome – a reactive arthritis.
What foods carry Salmonella?
Virtually any food – meat, poultry, dairy, produce, spices, candy, chocolate, – may be contaminated with Salmonella. In addition, small pets – rodents, snakes and lizards – are common carriers of this pathogen. Food items that are Salmonella-free may become contaminated through improper handling (cross-contamination) during preparation.
How can susceptible people protect themselves from infection?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers some tips for avoiding the spread of Salmonella:
- Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw (unpasteurized) milk.
- If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, don’t hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
- Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
- Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.
- Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles, birds, or baby chicks, and after contact with pet feces.
- Avoid direct or even indirect contact between reptiles (turtles, iguanas, other lizards, snakes) and infants or immunocompromised persons.
- Don’t work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at the same time.
- Mother’s milk is the safest food for young infants. Breastfeeding prevents salmonellosis and many other health problems.
For more information on Salmonella and other food-borne pathogens, visit the CDC website or read my book, Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives, which can be purchased on-line from ASM Press, Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.
[...] a deli counter or supermarket deli display, should not eat the chicken liver. Anyone who develops symptoms of salmonellosis within one week after having eaten broiled chicken livers or chopped chicken liver should consult a [...]
By: Broiled Chicken Livers Sicken 153 In New York & New Jersey « eFoodAlert on November 9, 2011
at 2:12 pm
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[...] a deli counter or supermarket deli display, should not eat the chicken liver. Anyone who develops symptoms of salmonellosis within one week after having eaten broiled chicken livers or chopped chicken liver should consult a [...]
By: UPDATE: Broiled Chicken Livers Sicken At Least 170 In 5 States « eFoodAlert on November 9, 2011
at 3:53 pm
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[...] Safety Withdrawal (Ukraine): Agromars has withdrawn several batches of poultry meat after Salmonella was found in the products during a scheduled government inspection. As many as 30,000 tonnes of [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: January 31, 2012 « eFoodAlert on January 31, 2012
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[...] January 19th, the US CDC reported a multi-state outbreak of 68 confirmed cases of Salmonella enteritidis gastroenteritis associated with eating food from “Restaurant A,” which the [...]
By: Taco Bell Named In Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak « eFoodAlert on February 1, 2012
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[...] Alert Update: CDC issues its Final Investigation Update into an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to ground beef from Hannaford Supermarkets. In all, 20 illnesses were confirmed in seven [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 1, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 1, 2012
at 6:02 pm
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[...] of Salmonella Newport infections have been reported in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany according to information [...]
By: International Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Watermelon « eFoodAlert on February 2, 2012
at 10:34 am
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[...] of Salmonella Newport infections have been reported in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany according to information [...]
By: International Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Watermelon « eFoodAlert on February 2, 2012
at 10:34 am
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[...] Hornell stores between January 23 and February 1, 2012), because the eggs may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and were recalled by Michael Foods, Inc. The following items are included in this recall [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 2, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 2, 2012
at 4:15 pm
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[...] Spicy Southwest Blend – were recalled by the manufacturer due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled products were sold internationally over the internet between July 1, 2011 and [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 4, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 4, 2012
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[...] order and sold from December 28, 2011 through January 21, 2012), due to possible contamination with Salmonella. The recalled sausage was sold only from the Livno Meats retail store in Hornby, [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 6, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 6, 2012
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[...] 8-12% (500g pkgs; Batch #400246504A; Produced ; Best before ), because Salmonella was detected in a sample of the [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 7, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 7, 2012
at 3:56 pm
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[...] (500g; Packaged ; Best before ; modified atmosphere packaging), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled meat was sold at LIDL [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 15, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 15, 2012
at 7:08 pm
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[...] Product of Poland; Expiry 28/2-2012; individual eggs stamped with the code 3PL30221304), because Salmonella enteritidis was found in a sample of the [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 17, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 17, 2012
at 11:49 am
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[...] Foods A/S recalls Minced pork butcher 8-12% (500g; Batch #400260703A; Expiry 14/2-2012), after Salmonella was found in a sample of the product. The recalled pork was sold in Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, Da Facts [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 20, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 20, 2012
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[...] Alert: The Hamilton public health department is investigating four cases of salmonellosis that may be linked to the Eat a Pita restaurant on Main Street East at Kenilworth Avenue. The [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 23, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 23, 2012
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[...] Alert Update: Hamilton public health officials have identified an additional 12 cases of Salmonella illness among patrons of Eat A Pita (1384 Main St. East, Hamilton East). A February 9, 2012 [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 24, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 24, 2012
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[...] Alert Update: The Hamilton, Ontario public health department has confirmed 4 cases of Salmonella and is still investigating an additional 36 cases that it believes are associated with the Eat a [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 26, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 26, 2012
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[...] attend the nursery of the parish Centro per la famiglia di Cassinone a Seriate were diagnosed with Salmonella infections after developing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The three victims were treated in [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 27, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 27, 2012
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[...] 2011 inspection of the company’s soy manufacturing facility revealed the presence of Salmonella species Poly B in the facility, including on a direct food-contact surface. Inspectors also [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: February 28, 2012 « eFoodAlert on February 28, 2012
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[...] & A Eastern Trading Ground Turmeric (100g packages; Lot #1115; Expiry date ), due to Salmonella [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 1, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 1, 2012
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[...] Alerts (Ontario): Toronto Public Health reports increased Salmonella activity in Toronto this year, with 114 cases report since the beginning of 2012. Included in the [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 3, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 3, 2012
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[...] Safety Notification (EU #2012.0337): Salmonella spp. in pasteurized liquid egg white from France; distributed to Belgium, France and [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 6, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 6, 2012
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[...] Metzgerei GmbH recalls Feine Streichmettwurst (Lot identification X3 and X8), due to Salmonella contamination. Only those products labeled with both X3 and X8 (i.e., produced on the 3rd day of [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 7, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 7, 2012
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[...] Organic Cashews ( 25 lbs net wt; Lot #USGE19387; Manufactured by PT. JAVA Mete Indonesia), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled Organic Cashews were distributed to California, Michigan and [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 8, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 8, 2012
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[...] is shockingly lax in its food safety consumer alerts. Last December, I reported on the Salmonella outbreak linked to Label Rouge dried sausage products (manufactured by La Société Salaison [...]
By: Stealth Recalls, European Style « eFoodAlert on March 10, 2012
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[...] UPC 6 20383 02007 7; Lot code 01B12G & 12A05G), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled curry powder was distributed in Ontario and Quebec. This is an expansion of a [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 14, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 14, 2012
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[...] not forget the real risks hiding in those packages of ground beef and pre-formed burger patties - Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7 and other shiga-toxin producing E. coli. E. coli O157:H7 Photo by Janice Haney [...]
By: The Real Pink Slime « eFoodAlert on March 15, 2012
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[...] Lot 02B12G & 12A05G), which was recalled by G. Dion Foods due to potential contamination with Salmonella, was sold in Canadian Whole Foods Market [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 16, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 16, 2012
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[...] Alert Update (Ontario): Ottawa Public Health has now confirmed 37 cases of salmonellosis, including 33 involving children of between 15 months and 18 years of age. One daycare facility [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 19, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 19, 2012
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[...] eggs from Daizen Farms (Burlington, WA), due to insanitary processing conditions and a high risk of Salmonella infection in the laying hens. This warning results from an FDA inspection of the company’s [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 20, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 20, 2012
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[...] dates and ) and Frozen Kebab (Packing dates and ), due to Salmonella contamination. The recalled meats were sold to restaurants (primarily kebab and pizzerias) on [...]
By: Recalls and Alerts: March 21, 2012 « eFoodAlert on March 21, 2012
at 11:53 am
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