The bacteria salmonella lives in the intestinal tract of birds and animals. When transmitted to humans through food contaminated with animal feces, salmonella can cause diarrhea accompanied by abdominal cramps and fever. It accounts for more than a million cases of food borne illness and 500 deaths annually in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Source
Humans become infected with salmonella by eating foods that look normal but are contaminated with animal feces. Salmonella contamination does not affect the taste, smell or appearance of food. Foods more likely to be contaminated include those of animal origin such as beef, poultry, milk or eggs, but vegetables may also become contaminated if an infected food handler does not wash his hands with soap and water after using the restroom.
Prevention
Avoid eating raw or undercooked poultry or meat. To prevent salmonella food borne illness, cooked meat should not be pink in the middle. Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and raw or unpasteurized milk and dairy products. Some homemade foods including hollandaise sauce, Caesar salad dressings, tiramisu cake and homemade ice creams, cookie dough and frosting may contain raw eggs,the CDC warns. Inquire about the content of these foods.
Thoroughly wash produce and prevent cross-contamination of foods by keeping uncooked meats separate from produce and ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly wash cutting boards, counters, knives, utensils and hands after touching uncooked foods. Wash hands before handling food and between handling different food items.
Treatment
No salmonella vaccination is available and some salmonella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics. Unless the infection spreads from the intestines, the illness usually resolves in five to seven days and requires only treatment with oral fluids. Severe diarrhea may require intravenous fluids for hydration.
The CDC cautions that a small percentage of persons infected with salmonella develop Reiter's syndrome, a condition accompanied by pain in the joints, painful urination and irritation of the eyes. This can lead to chronic arthritis and is difficult to treat.
Consumer Action
Take special precautions with foods and pets for persons at higher risk. Life-threatening salmonella poisoning can affect infants, young children, pregnant women and unborn babies, older adults and people with compromised or weakened immune systems.
People can become infected with salmonella bacteria if they do not wash their hands after contact with pets or pet feces. Reptiles, especially likely to have salmonella contamination in their skin, do not make appropriate pets for small children and should not occupy the same house as an infant, according to the CDC. Children should not handle baby chicks or young birds and all persons should wash their hands after touching birds or their environment.
Government Action
The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects egg pasteurization plants, monitors food animal health and quality of slaughtered and processed meat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates and monitors the safety of drinking water supplies.
The Food and Drug Administration monitors inspection of milk pasteurization plants, inspects imported foods, and promotes safe food preparation in processing plants and restaurants. The FDA regulates the use of specific antibiotics used to promote growth in food animals. Because of a salmonella outbreak linked to pet turtles, the FDA also regulates the sale of turtles.
