What can be done?

You can’t smell or see Salmonella in or on food. That’s why it’s important to do everything that you can to be food safe at home:

Follow the tried-and-true behaviors of CLEAN, SEPARATE, COOK, and CHILL. When it comes to Salmonella, this means:

Wash your hands, utensils, cutting boards, and other surfaces before and after handling meat and poultry.

Thoroughly wash fresh fruits and vegetables.

Assume that raw chicken and other meat have Salmonella and don’t allow them to contaminate surfaces and other foods, such as produce.

Don’t wash meat, poultry, and eggs! This can actually spread Salmonella to other foods.

Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly to safe temperatures.

Avoid unpasteurized dairy products (including soft cheeses) and juices.

Make sure shellfish are cooked or treated for safe eating.

Report suspected food poisoning to your local health department.

Never prepare food for others if you have diarrhea or vomiting.

Pay attention to food recall notices. Never serve or eat food that has been recalled.

You can also support policies that encourage good food safety practices among farmers, grocery stores, and places that make, sell, or serve food.

Prevention