Salmonella is a bacterial infection that often causes food poisoning because it affects the digestive tract. Salmonella infection (called salmonellosis) is usually not serious, and most people recover within a week.
Salmonellosis is caused by infection with Salmonella bacteria. People usually become infected after eating food (or touching an animal) contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria.
We sometimes hear of product recalls of peanut butter contaminated with Salmonella, but how does Salmonella get into the peanut butter?
Peanuts are grown in the ground and may become contaminated with Salmonella bacteria from several sources:
- Manure
- Water
- Wild animals
- Soil
When peanuts are harvested, there is often Salmonella present, and the bacteria can survive for a long time in peanut butter. Fatty foods are protective of Salmonella, and peanut butter, a highly fatty food, allows the bacteria to survive better. However, peanut butter products are routinely treated to kill the bacteria. A roaster with air temperatures set to about 300oF is used to destroy Salmonella in peanuts, called the “kill step” by manufacturers.
However, even after this step used to kill the Salmonella bacteria, contamination may occur in the processing plant after the roasting. The problem is often due to water entering into the process. For example, a roof leak in a processing plant caused one Salmonella outbreak.
13 Other Sources of Salmonella
In addition to peanut butter, other foods that may commonly have Salmonella bacteria include:
- Eggs
- Beef
- Pork
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Raw and undercooked meat
- Dairy products
- Sprouts
- Raw fruits or vegetables
- Processed foods
- Other types of nut butter
- Chicken nuggets
- Frozen pot pies
- Stuffed chicken entrees
People can also get salmonellosis from touching certain animals, including:
- Chickens
- Turtles
- Ducks
What Are Symptoms of Salmonella?
Symptoms of Salmonella usually develop within six hours to six days after eating food or touching an animal contaminated with the bacteria and include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever that usually lasts two or three days
- Diarrhea that usually lasts four to 10 days
- May be watery or bloody
- Abdominal pain or cramping
What Is the Treatment for Salmonella?
Salmonella infection typically goes away on its own, and no treatment may be needed.
Home remedies for symptoms of Salmonella infection include:
- Rest
- Drink plenty of fluids with water, salt, and sugar, such as water mixed with juice, soda, or broth
- Eat small amounts of food if tolerated
- Avoid foods high in fat, which may worsen symptoms
Antibiotics may be prescribed for patients at higher risk of serious illness, including:
- Babies under one year of age
- Adults over 50 years of age
- People with a weakened immune system
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https://www.uptodate.com/contents/salmonella-infection-the-basics?search=Salmonella&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/salmonella-food.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-peanut-butter-is-the-perfect-home-for-salmonella-149834812/