What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a rod-shaped bacterium that can cause diarrhea and other illnesses, including salmonellosis. Salmonellosis is an infection that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), causes more than 500 deaths per year in the United States.
 

The Salmonella family includes over 2,300 types of bacteria. Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are the most common types in the U.S. and account for half of all human infections. When Salmonella is present in food, it cannot usually be detected by smell, taste or appearance. This inability to instantly detect Salmonella contamination is what makes Salmonella testing labs like ours so important.

 

Where is Salmonella found?

Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of infected humans and animals. Humans most often become infected with Salmonella after eating foods that have been contaminated with animal feces. These foods in particular should be prepared properly to avoid the spread of salmonella:

• Meat

• Poultry

• Milk & dairy products

• Eggs

• Seafood

• Fruits

• Vegetables