10 surprising facts about salmonella, the deadliest foodborne bacteria
Papaya, chicken, and even your pet turtle can make you sick.
Jan, 2026
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You’d like to think that everything you eat is free from germs that could make you sick, but that’s not always the case. When it comes to food poisoning, the bacteria most likely to put you in the hospital—and perhaps even kill you—is Salmonella. Here are the most essential facts about this foodborne bug.
Written byPatrick Sullivan.
Medically reviewed byJoanne Perron, MD.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Information for Healthcare Professionals and Laboratories. Page last reviewed August 31 + 11
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Information for Healthcare Professionals and Laboratories. Page last reviewed August 31, 2022.
- World Health Organization. Salmonella (non-typhoidal). February 20, 2018.
- FoodSafety.gov. Salmonella and Food. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- FoodSafety.gov. Bacteria and Viruses: Salmonella. Accessed November 22, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Reports of Selected Salmonella Outbreak Investigations. Last reviewed October 20, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Questions and Answers. Page last reviewed September 9, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Symptoms. Page last reviewed December 12, 2019.
- MedlinePlus. Salmonella Infections. Last updated August 4, 2016.
- MedlinePlus. Fecal culture. Reviewed April 11, 2020.
- Mayo Clinic. Salmonella infection. April 29, 2022.
- FoodSafety.gov. Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature. Date last reviewed November 2, 2022.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salmonella: Prevention. Page last reviewed February 8, 2019.
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