Preventing Salmonellosis - All You Need to Know

Introduction:

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the bacteria - Salmonella. These bacteria are found in the intestines of birds and animals. The infection can spread through water, food, or drink that is contaminated with the bacteria. Usually, consuming raw meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, and unpasteurized dairy products and contact with contaminated surfaces or food can cause salmonellosis. In addition, contact with infected animals, pets, rodents, and other infected people (contagious for several days to weeks) and improper food handling practices can lead to salmonellosis.

What Are the Key Interesting Facts About Salmonellosis?

Salmonella can cause infections that can make one sick. The key facts that one must know about Salmonella include the following:

1. Contaminated Food Looks Normal - One can get infected due to Salmonella from consuming a variety of foods. Salmonella is found in the following raw or contaminated food:

• Sprouts.

• Vegetables.

• Eggs.

• Chicken.

• Pork.

• Fruits.

• Processed food (such as chicken nuggets, nut butter, and frozen pot pies).

The food that is contaminated with Salmonella smells and looks normal, and thus it is essential to be aware of preventive measures to avoid getting infected with Salmonella.

2. Salmonella Spread - Salmonella can spread to individuals from animals or other people. Washing hands after contact with pets or other animals, after using the toilet, cleaning toilets, or changing diapers is essential to prevent infection. If a person has a Salmonella infection, they should not prepare drinks or food until they no longer have diarrhea.

3. Salmonella and Warm Weather - Salmonella infections are more common during summer. Salmonella grows in warmer weather and in food that is not refrigerated. Food that is more likely to go bad quickly or spoil must be refrigerated. In addition, prepared food and leftovers must not be kept outside for more than an hour or two on a warm sunny day.

4. Water Contamination and Salmonella - Swimming in crowded pools increases the risk of Salmonella infections. Those with salmonellosis should avoid swimming in public pools. Swallowing pool or lake water while swimming can also cause salmonellosis. Thus, one should never swallow water from lakes or pools.

5. Serious Infections - Salmonella can cause serious infections. Though anyone can get infected with Salmonella, some people are more prone to develop a serious disease. Young children (younger than five years), the elderly, people with the weakened immune system such as those with cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, and immunocompromised people with other infections such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) are more prone to develop a serious infection due to Salmonella.

6. Under-Reported Salmonella Infections - The incidence of Salmonella is much more than in laboratory-confirmed cases. Most individuals with food poisoning do not visit a doctor or submit a laboratory sample. Thus, the cases of Salmonella are unreported. There are 30 more unreported cases of Salmonella infection for each confirmed case.

How to Be Safe Around Animals to Prevent Salmonellosis?

Pets at home, and other healthy animals, found at schools, daycares, farms, petting zoos, and fairs can carry Salmonella, which can make people sick. Tips to remain safe around animals include:

• One must wash their hands thoroughly (with soap and running water) after touching the animals or their food, water, stools, or habitats.

• One should avoid putting their hands in their mouth after playing with or petting animals. Items the animals have come in contact with must also be kept away from the mouth.

• One must not kiss animals, including pets.

• Children younger than five years, the elderly, and other people with weak immunity should not touch turtles, frogs, ducks, chicken, and other high-risk animals or their habitats and belongings that can spread the bacteria.

• One must avoid eating and drinking in and around the areas where the animals (especially high-risk animals) roam and live.

• Pet's cage, terrarium, bed, aquarium, food, and water bowls must be cleaned outdoors or in a large sink that can be disinfected and cleaned. One must never use the kitchen sink to clean the pet's belongings.

• Pets must be taken to the veterinarian regularly to ensure they are healthy.

What Are the Steps to Food Safety to Prevent Salmonellosis?

One should follow four simple steps at home to prevent salmonellosis and food poisoning. These include:

1. Clean:

• It is essential to wash hands often. In addition, the surfaces on which raw food is kept should also be kept clean.

• The bacteria Salmonella can cause food poisoning and can survive and spread in many places in the kitchen.

• Washing hands with running water and soap for at least 20 seconds is important. One must wash hands before, during, and after handling and preparing food, and also before eating.

• Washing hands is vital to prevent Salmonella from spreading after handling raw, uncooked chicken, other poultry, meat, eggs, and seafood.

• The utensils, countertops, cutting boards, and other kitchen items that come in contact with raw food must be washed with water and soap after preparing each food.

• Fresh vegetables and fruits must be washed thoroughly under running water before eating.

2. Separate:

• Cross-contamination of Salmonella bacteria from contaminated raw, uncooked meat, seafood, poultry, or eggs can occur. Thus, it is important to keep them separate from other food.

• During grocery shopping, raw animal products must be kept away from other food items.

• During marinating raw poultry, meat, eggs, and seafood, they must be kept away and separated from the other food items in the refrigerator.

• Sealed containers and packages must be used to store raw, uncooked seafood, meat, and poultry to prevent cross-contamination from their juices leaking into the other food items.

• Separate cutting boards or plates must be used for food that is consumed uncooked (such as bread, fruits, or vegetables) and raw, uncooked poultry, meat, and seafood.

• Care must be taken while washing the raw eggs, meat, and poultry, as it can contaminate the counter surfaces or the sink.

3. Cook:

• Cooking the food to the right temperature can help kill the bacteria and prevent infection. Care should be taken that the internal temperature of the food must be high enough to kill the bacteria. Using a food thermometer can help to cook meat, poultry, and seafood safely.

• The temperatures that ensure killing the bacteria are as follows:

145 Degrees Fahrenheit (145°F):

• Beef, lamb, veal pork, and fresh ham (whole cuts).

• Fish with fins (the flesh has to turn opaque and is easy to separate with a fork).

160 Degrees Fahrenheit (160°F):

• Ground meats, such as pork or beef.

• Eggs.

165 Degrees Fahrenheit (165°F):

• All types of poultry, such as ground turkey and chicken.

• Casseroles and leftovers.

• Food must be microwaved thoroughly following the recommended standing and cooking times. After microwaving, the food can be left to sit for a few minutes to cook more completely. When reheating using a microwave, one must ensure that the food reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (165°F) using a food thermometer.

4. Chill:

• Proper and prompt refrigeration is essential to prevent the growth and spread of Salmonella. The bacteria multiply rapidly at warmer room temperatures.

• The refrigerator must be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and the freezer must be maintained at zero degrees Fahrenheit.

• Food must be thrown out before getting spoilt.

• Warm or hot food must be packaged into clean, shallow containers before refrigeration.

• Perishable food items such as dairy, cut fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, and cooked leftovers must be refrigerated within one to two hours. Care must be taken to never leave these items out at warm room temperature for more than one or two hours.

• Frozen food must not be thawed on the kitchen counter as it can cause the bacteria to multiply rapidly on the surface of the food. Thus, frozen food can be thawed in cold water, refrigerators, or microwaves for more safety.

Conclusion:

Salmonellosis is a common bacterial infection that is preventable. Following safety measures, while swimming, handling, storing, and cooking food, and touching animals can help avoid the spread of bacteria and prevent disease.