Childrens Health InfoFree Childrens Health Advice

From burger patties to peanut butter, Salmonella lurks in the most unexpected food purchases that you give to your child. Fast food burgers, raw eggs, and even supermarket vegetables often contain Salmonella traces especially when they aren’t properly prepared.

Salmonella, a type of bacteria that causes serious fever once swallowed, is mainly found in raw meats and animal feces. Uncooked food and unhygienic processing of packaged food products usually contain strains of these harmful bacteria that can lead to death once it enters the body.

Food poisoning from salmonella is called Salmonellosis. Most victims of this food poisoning are children who have weak immune systems. Salmonellosis often occurs during summer and claims thousands of victims yearly in the US alone. Its symptoms include fever, diarrhea, and stomach pains. Once the symptoms occur, victims are in danger of dehydration and for this they should see medical help immediately.

Here are some guidelines to prevent food poisoning from salmonella:

• Wash hands before and every meal. It’s ideal to clean them thoroughly after preparing meals especially when you’ve just cut or handled chicken, pork, or beef.
• Make sure you cook your food thoroughly whether it’s red meat or eggs. The same thing goes for vegetables. Before cooking your veggies, rinse them on running water to remove excess dirt even if they’re pre-packed by your trusted grocery store.
• Don’t just cook your food in a microwave. Only use the microwave for heating meals.
• If a recipe calls for a raw egg parts (e.g. Eggs Benedict, Meringue), use egg white or egg yolk substitutes available in supermarkets. When using milk and eggs, use pasteurized or decontaminated ones to reduce the risk of salmonella infection.

Disinfect your kitchen regularly with cleaners that get rid of different bacteria that multiply on tiles and sinks.