What does salmonella do to you if you get it?

How does salmonella get into peanuts?

• In the wake of the recent salmonella/peanut butter scare, I began to wonder how the salmonella gets into the peanuts. I know you can get salmonella from uncooked chicken or eggs, but peanuts? Ideas, anybody?

• Answer:

  "They are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or other animals." "Salmonella bacteria have been known to cause illness for over 100 years. They were discovered by an American scientist, Dr. Daniel E. Salmon." ""Salmonella" bacteria are the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness." And the really fun one: "Salmonella lives in the intestinal track of humans and other animals, including birds." So you have this bacteria that we live with, except that when we swallow it, it we die with it instead. "Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.Salmonella present on raw meat and poultry could survive if the product is not cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature, as measured with a food thermometer. Salmonella can also cause foodborne illness (salmonellosis) through cross-contamination, e.g., when juices from raw meat or poultry come in contact with ready-to-eat foods, such as salads. Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler. Salmonella can also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. People can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces. Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella. People should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile, even if the reptile is healthy." So all the peanut processor had to do was hire workers who didn't wash their hands after using the toilet.