Salmonella in more than just food A recent study at the University of Arkansas found that the salmonella bacteria might be lurking not just in your food but in other household places as well. Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States. Because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the Center for Disease Control says the actual number of infections may be twenty or more times greater. More often to blame than contaminated food in cases in which children are infected with bacteria is the household environment surrounding the child. It is frequently seen on other household items, in soil, inside vacuum cleaners and on household pets. So, in addition to handling raw meats, fish and poultry with care, the best way to prevent the spread of salmonella in your home is to remind children to wash their hands often before eating and keep their hands out of their mouth. More tips for preventing salmonella poisoning: • Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly before eating. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw unpasteurized milk. • If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, don't hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking. • Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry. • Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. • Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles or birds, or after contact with pet feces. • Avoid direct or even indirect contact between reptiles (turtles, iguanas, other lizards, snakes) and infants or immunocompromised persons. • Don't work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at the same time. • Mother's milk is the safest food for young infants. Breast-feeding prevents salmonellosis and many other health problems.