Protect Yourself from Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacterium widely known for causing food poisoning in the United States. It can occur in raw poultry, eggs, beef, unwashed fruits and vegetables. 

Although there is no preventative vaccine, there are ways you can keep salmonella out of your kitchen: clean, separate, cook and chill.

Wash your hands and kitchen utensils before and after handling foods. Maintaining a clean workspace will decrease the chance of contamination.

Always keep food groups separate from each other. For example, don’t use the same plate for your salad as you used to season your chicken. 

Thoroughly cook raw foods to the proper temperature, not under or over. 

Let your leftovers chill before refrigerating them. 

Infected persons may notice symptoms 6-48 hours after exposure. Symptoms may include diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps. Always consult a physician if you think you have been infected.

Most recently in 2017, the U.S. experienced salmonella outbreaks in contaminated papayas and from contact with infected pet turtles.