The 6 unexpected foods that can pass on Salmonella

Salmonella is the group of bacteria behind one of the most common types of food poisoning in the UK, and while for most people it means a few unpleasant days at home, for others it can lead to serious illness. There is currently a national outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK. One person has died and hundreds have fallen ill as result of the outbreak. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) told the BBC that under fives, over 65s, women who are pregnant and those with health conditions should avoid eating under-cooked or runny eggs when they are eating out along with freshly-made products that might contain uncooked eggs, such as mayonnaise, souffle and hollandaise sauce due to the outbreak.

Symptoms typically include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. These usually appear between 12 and 72 hours after infection, and illness typically lasts 4 to 7 days. For most people, Salmonella causes a bout of gastroenteritis that clears up on its own. However, some people are at greater risk of more severe illness, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and, in rare cases, multi-organ failure.

While many associate Salmonella primarily with poultry and eggs, it can actually contaminate a far wider range of foods. Here are 6 unexpected items to watch out for.

While it may be tempting to try some unbaked cookie dough, pizza dough, pastry, or cake batter, you shouldn’t eat it unless the label states that it is ready-to-eat. Raw flour is an untreated agricultural product that can harbour harmful bacteria because the grains are harvested from fields and milled without a kill-step to eliminate germs.

Some fresh produce may be exposed to water contaminated with Salmonella during irrigation or processing. Contamination can also occur in the kitchen when juices from raw meat or poultry come into contact with uncooked foods, such as salads.

Salmonella contamination in chocolate is uncommon but can pose a serious food safety risk. Chocolate’s high fat and low moisture content can help Salmonella survive for extended periods and may increase its resistance to stomach acid. Contamination can occur through contaminated raw ingredients, cocoa beans, processing environments, or handling during manufacturing.

4. Peanut butter and other nut butters

Peanut butter and other nut butters such as almond butter can harbour Salmonella bacteria because the high-fat and low-moisture environment allows the germ to survive for several months.

Dried spices and herbs can harbor Salmonella because the bacteria have high desiccation tolerance, allowing them to survive in low-moisture environments for months or years.

Some types of pet food, including pet chews or treats, are made of raw meat and other unprocessed animal products. Raw meat can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and E. coli.

The FSA published a survey on microbiological contamination of raw pet food sold in the UK earlier this year. The survey detected pathogenic bacteria in 35% of the raw pet food samples. Between March 2023 and February 2024, raw pet food samples were obtained from retail stores and online purchases: 277 raw dog food samples and 103 raw cat food samples. Salmonella was detected in 21% of the samples, Campylobacter in 14% and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in 12%.

To prevent getting ill, you should wash your hands with soap and hot water immediately after handling and preparing any raw pet food or treats. According to the UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, pet food and treats should also be stored and defrosted away from where human food is stored and prepared. Make sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces that the raw pet food touched, such as microwaves, work surfaces, storage containers and utensils like knives, forks and bowls.

Many foods can also become contaminated when they are prepared by people who don’t wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing a diaper or after handling contaminated food.

Good hygiene is vital, the UK Health Security Agency said.

It advised: “Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before preparing or handling food, wash utensils and chopping boards with hot water and cook food thoroughly.

“If you have symptoms yourself, avoid preparing food for others where you can.”