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Food or Fiend? The Rising Threat of Salmonella in Our Food Supply

Written by Emma Nakazato, Edited by Caitlin Subjianto

Overview

Many people have heard of Salmonella before, but what really is it? Where does it come from, and how does it seem to never go away? Salmonella bacteria often contaminate water and food, causing an infection known as salmonellosis, which primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, and most individuals recover within a few days to a week without treatment[1]. 


Common Sources of Salmonella and Recent Outbreaks

Salmonella frequently contaminates raw meat, poultry, seafood, fruit, and vegetables during processing and handling, thereby increasing the risk of cross-contamination across food-contact surfaces, preparation environments, and other food items. Raw or undercooked eggs and unpasteurized dairy products are well documented sources of infection because animals can serve as reservoirs for pathogens[1]. Adhering to proper food safety practices, such as thoroughly rinsing produce and using a clean knife to cut produce, can help eliminate bacteria and reduce cross-contamination. Recent outbreaks involving multiple serotypes of Salmonella–including Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Telelkebir, and Salmonella Richmond–have been investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and linked to products such as moringa powder capsules, super greens supplement powders, raw oysters, and moringa leaf powder[2]. These findings highlight that Salmonella outbreaks can originate from a diverse array of sources and are not limited to just raw or undercooked food. 


Clearing up Misconceptions 

Although there has been a rise in influencers on social media promoting the consumption of raw meat and eggs and unpasteurized milk, it is highly advised to avoid doing so, according to the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The consumption of such foods increases the risk of exposure to Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. This spread of misinformation through social media can have detrimental effects, particularly for impressionable viewers who are often unaware of the associated risks. Instead, individuals should consume properly cooked meat and eggs and pasteurized milk, as these processes effectively eliminate Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria, thereby substantially reducing the risk of salmonellosis and other bacterial infections.


Resistance and Persistence

How has Salmonella persisted for such a long time? According to the results of an experiment conducted at a California feed mill, the death rate of Salmonella Enteritidis, a type of Salmonella, decreased with increasing heat[3]. Typically, increasing heat increases the death rate of Salmonella. However, certain strains of Salmonella are more persistent in hot environments, contributing to their presence in animal products. 


In addition to temperature resistance, certain strains have developed antimicrobial resistance. Although antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole have been historically used to control the spread of Salmonella, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance has significantly reduced their effectiveness[4]. Although alternative antimicrobial agents have been introduced, resistance has continued to emerge, limiting their effectiveness. A major factor of this trend is the growing use of antibiotics in animal feed to promote growth and the use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in animals[4]. The increased use of antibiotics has created selective pressure favoring antibiotic-resistant strains, allowing them to proliferate within animal populations and persist despite continued efforts at eradication.


Prevention

As antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella continue to emerge, scientists have proposed the use of natural medicines, such as herbal remedies. Their benefits include enhancing the richness of beneficial gut microbiomes, promoting the secretion of antimicrobial components, and inhibiting Salmonella proliferation[5]. Instead of directly targeting bacteria, natural medicines support the immune system and are more of a preventative solution. Additionally, they address safety concerns because they are milder and are low in toxicity compared to antibiotics[5]. This suggests that natural medicines are a promising alternative to antibiotics and can prevent the growth of antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella.


Conclusion

To summarize, Salmonella remains a persistent public health concern due to its contamination of a wide variety of foods, survival in hot environments, and resistance to some antibiotics. While people who get infected with salmonellosis can often recover quickly, Salmonella is still a concern because of how easily it spreads due to cross contamination and poor hygiene. This is an especially pressing concern with the increased promotion of raw animal products on social media recently, which may increase exposure to foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella. Ultimately, addressing the ongoing threat of Salmonella requires strengthened public education, increased awareness, improved food safety measures, better food handling practices, and continued investment in scientific research.

References

  1. Salmonella Infection. mayoclinic.org. Published April 30, 2025. Accessed March 5, 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/symptoms-causes/syc-20355329.

  2. Current Outbreaks. cdc.gov. Updated April 8, 2026. Accessed April 8, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/foodborne-outbreaks/outbreaks/index.html. 

  3. Himathongkham S, das Graças Pereira M, Riemann H. Heat Destruction of Salmonella in Poultry Feed: Effect of Time, Temperature, and Moisture. Avian Diseases. 1996;40(1):72-77.

  4. Eng SK, Pusparajah P, Ab Mutalib NS, Ser HL, Chan KG, Lee LH. Salmonella: A review on pathogenesis, epidemiology and antibiotic resistance. Frontiers in Life Science. 2015;8(3):284-293.

  5. Zhang Y, Liu J, Pan Y et al. Progress on the prevention of poultry Salmonella with natural medicines. ScienceDirect. 2025;104(1):104603.

This post is not a substitute for professional advice. If you believe that you may be experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your primary care physician, or go to the nearest Emergency Room. Results from ongoing research are constantly evolving. This post contains information that was last updated in May 2026.


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