Salmonella Food Poisoning: Key Foods to Avoid

Outbreaks of salmonella food poisoning is out time and again with peanuts, melons, pistachios, peanut butter bottles, Serrano peppers and many others that has terrorized the world of consumers. These contaminated products are withdrawn or pulled out of the market but even with that, there are still people who suffered due to this microorganism.

Actually, symptoms of salmonella food poisoning or salmonella simply are watery that is sometimes bloody stools, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain and cramping, and headache. Usually, the diarrhea lasts for about three days but the whole “sickness” lasts for about a week for the body to have totally recovered from gastrointestinal tract infection.



Salmonella food poisoning treatment can resolve on its own without drugs. The sufferer only has to treat the symptoms. That means that he only has to keep himself rehydrated as his body’s fluids and electrolytes are lost fast as he passes watery stools and vomits. Dehydration is what the sufferer should combat. As with the stomach pain and cramping, a warm compress on the abdomen can be done if the patient prefers. Rest is important in treating salmonella food poisoning infection. The digestive system is already suffering which means the way for the body to be nourished is compromised. Less energy should be spent doing tiresome tasks as more energy should be directed to the body healing itself.

On the other hand, though we do not intend to be affected with salmonella food poisoning, we get it probably because of the food we eat, our poor hygienic practice, or carelessness with the water we drink. Sometimes also, it isn’t our fault directly because we were served something that is contaminated with salmonella. It is a good thing that there were studies that identified the common causes of salmonella and we as intelligent consumers only have to avoid them.



One fact is that salmonella can live in the skin of reptiles. If we or our children have pet turtles, crocodiles, iguana we could be unknowingly giving ourselves the microorganisms. That is the reason we were taught to always wash our hands before and after eating (especially before). A great percentage of salmonella food poisoning in children was found to be due of this reason.

Moreover, symptoms of salmonella can be avoided if we are careful of the eggs we consume. Salmonella can live in eggs especially if there was a crack in the shell. The lesson is, dispose cracked and those “old” eggs that has been in the shelf for some time. And be careful of the salads, dressings, sauces that have raw eggs as ingredients in them.

Raw chicken meat can also be a source of salmonella food poisoning. It has to be cooked well for the microorganisms to be dead and for us to eat it safely. Another, you should have a separate chopping board for raw and cooked to avoid cross contamination.

And take the oldest advice ever when it comes to food poisoning, if you are not sure of where it came from, do not eat or drink it. Even if it looks clean if you are not sure of how it was prepared, let it pass. Saying no to a yummy food is better than having to suffer salmonella food poisoning for a week.