Cooking Chicken? Safeguard Against Salmonella

A recent outbreak of salmonella linked to Foster Farms chicken, discovered in October, has resulted in more than 300 people becoming ill across the country. This alarming incident has spurred calls for people to be extra careful when handling and preparing the raw chicken they purchase in order to minimize the risk of infection.

When a person is infected with the salmonella bacteria, they can experience symptoms such as fever, chills, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. People infected with salmonella are usually sick for up to seven days and, in most cases, they are able to recover without the need for treatment intervention.

But in this recent national outbreak, the strains of salmonella turned out to be particularly virulent, giving rise to a number of serious cases that were certainly a cause for concern. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, of the individuals who became ill after getting infected from the salmonella infected Foster Farms chicken, about 42% had to be hospitalized. This is twice the normal hospitalization rate for salmonella infection. A few of the strains in this incident were also found to be resistant to antiobiotics, posing a problem for effective treatment of the infection.

This case has raised awareness of the importance of consumers taking precautions when handling chicken to protect themselves and their families against illness caused by food contamination. One key precaution that is being advised by researchers is that people should refrain from washing chicken in their sinks. This is because splashed water from washing the chicken can land onto surrounding kitchen surfaces, such as countertops, dish racks and towel, which spreads the bacteria. There is also a high risk of the bacteria ending up on your hands or coming into contact with other foods.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, contrary to what many people think, not all types of bacteria can be removed by washing the chicken. This is because some bacteria cling firmly to the chicken so washing it once or several times won't make a difference. However, washing can help take out other types of bacteria from the chicken. Another thing is very important is to clean kitchen surfaces where the water from washing has splashed, as these areas will harbor bacteria that can contaminate other foods prepared in the kitchen. It is also recommended by the CDC that people use different cutting boards for meat and produce in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination taking place.

As this incident has highlighted, microbiology quality assurance is of utmost importance when it comes to product manufacturing. Microbiological analysis of products is necessary to determine that their quality is in line with certain industry standards and is safe for use by consumers. Several microbiology instruments are available to test the quality of products and detect any traces of microbiological organisms. A salmonella vial which can be used to see whether a product sample is contaminated with salmonella to ensure the product is safe for consumption. Microbiology quality assurance provides an effective way of assessing products and ultimately making sure they are safe for consumption.

Contact Biolumix to learn more about salmonella vial and other forms of microbiology quality assurance.

Biolumix
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Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: (734) 984-3100
Fax: 734-222-1830
Email: info@mybiolumix.com
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