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10 surprising facts about salmonella, the deadliest foodborne bacteria

Papaya, chicken, and even your pet turtle can make you sick.

Updated on November 28, 2022

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You’d like to think that everything you eat is free from germs that could make you sick, but that’s not always the case. When it comes to food poisoning, the bacteria most likely to put you in the hospital—and perhaps even kill you—is Salmonella. Here are the most essential facts about this foodborne bug.

Bacteria
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Salmonella is common

Salmonella causes about 1.35 million illnesses per year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a Salmonella infection is uncomfortable and potentially serious, it's rarely fatal—it kills only about 420 people annually, says the CDC. 

Testing bacteria levels in food
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Salmonella's not just one germ

Salmonella is the genus of the bacteria and there are two species. Within those two species, there are many more subcategories, called serotypes—more than 2,500, in fact.

Don’t worry—you don’t need to know about all 2,500 kinds of Salmonella. Four serotypes—Enteritidis, Typhimurium, Newport, andShow More

Farmer spraying pesticides
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Salmonella comes from poop

Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of humans and animals and can be transmitted when food becomes contaminated with small amounts of feces. The bacteria can be introduced into your food at any stage in processing, from harvesting, slaughtering, or manufacturing to preparation.

If a field isShow More

Uncooked chicken
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You can pick up salmonella almost anywhere

Part of the reason there are so many infections each year is because people can get Salmonella from a number of sources. But humans usually become infected from contaminated food. Between 2014 and 2022, outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to food products including:

Child eating a burger
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Anyone can get sick

Anyone can be infected with Salmonella and fall ill, but some people are more vulnerable than others. Children under the age of five have higher rates of infection than other age groups. Young kids, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely than healthy adults to developShow More

Woman experiencing stomach cramps
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Salmonella is rough on your stomach

A Salmonella infection primarily causes acute gastroenteritis, which involves inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This may lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramps, and occasionally nausea, vomiting, and headaches. You’ll almost always get a fever.

Symptoms typically show up six hoursShow More

Lab technician testing cultures
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Salmonella can be hard to detect

Since symptoms can take up to three days to hit, you may not realize your stomach trouble is tied to Salmonella.

To diagnose a Salmonella infection, healthcare providers will first typically take a sample of your stool and get a culture from it, meaning it will be placed in a dish in a laboratoryShow More

Woman taking pills
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Some treatments are no longer as effective

Most suspected cases of Salmonella infection don’t need treatment since they usually clear up on their own. You’ll want to stay hydrated while you’re sick and just ride it out.

If you’re still sick after your stool culture comes back, you may be given antibiotics. They're prescribed to treatShow More

Woman washing her hands
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Prevention is simple

If you’re mindful of good hygiene and food preparation, preventing Salmonella infections is pretty easy. Here are some key food preparation best practices to follow:

  • Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat or eggs or unpasteurized milk. Safe minimum internal temperatures for cooking are 165 degrees
  • Show More
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The latest info is at your fingertips

The CDC tracks past and active Salmonella outbreaks. You can also check with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which keeps a running list of food and product recalls, including those recalled due to fears of Salmonella contamination.  

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Information for Healthcare Professionals and Laboratories. Page last reviewed August 31, 2022.
World Health Organization. Salmonella (non-typhoidal). February 20, 2018.
FoodSafety.gov. Salmonella and Food. Accessed November 22, 2022.
FoodSafety.gov. Bacteria and Viruses: Salmonella. Accessed November 22, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Reports of Selected Salmonella Outbreak Investigations. Last reviewed October 20, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Questions and Answers. Page last reviewed September 9, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Symptoms. Page last reviewed December 12, 2019.
MedlinePlus. Salmonella Infections. Last updated August 4, 2016.
MedlinePlus. Fecal culture. Reviewed April 11, 2020.
Mayo Clinic. Salmonella infection. April 29, 2022.
FoodSafety.gov. Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature. Date last reviewed November 2, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Prevention. Page last reviewed February 8, 2019.

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