Salmonella spp is the bacteria that causes the illness known as Salmonellosis.

The bacteria is naturally found on many farm animals. While eating only a small amount of the bacteria can make a person sick, the severity of the symptoms is determined on the health of the person and the amount of the bacteria eaten. The bacteria can remain in the person’s feces for weeks after the symptoms have ended, which is why proper handwashing is imperative.

This bacteria is most commonly associated with the following food items: poultry & eggs, dairy products, and produce. Symptoms of Salmonellosis include: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever.

To help prevent this bacteria from causing an illness, it is imperative that you follow the following prevention measures:

1. Cook poultry and eggs to minimum internal temperatures.
2. prevent cross contamination between poultry and ready-to-eat foods.
3. keep foodhandlers who have been diagnosed with salmonellosis out of the foodservice operation.

If you have any questions about anything that I present in these lessons, or have a question about anything regarding food safety, please feel free to contact me.

Tomorrows lesson: What is Shigellosis (Shigella spp.)