Local grocery stores takes care of salmonella contaminated products

The popular snack, goldfish crackers, are being recalled this week. It is just another one of several food products that are being reported for salmonella. With so many recalls, how can you be sure your food isn’t contaminated?

“Salmonella is a bacterial infection,” said Mike Taylor, a surveillance epidemiologist for Eastern Idaho Public Health. “Most commonly associated with raw or undercooked meats such as chicken or raw or runny eggs. We’ve seen it before in raw cookie dough that have raw eggs in it.”

How can you be sure that the food you are purchasing is safe?

At Broulim’s Fresh Foods they are part of warehousing company called ‘Associated Foods’ that keeps all its stores updated on the latest the recalls. ‘Associated Foods’ has direct relationships with food manufacturers.

“We can come out and make sure we don’t have any of those products on the shelves,” said Brandon Holwege, the assistant grocery manager for Broulim’s. “As well, as go through any back stock we may have to get those returned back to the warehouse or back to the manufacturers.”

Products like raw turkey, which has sickened nearly 100 people in 26 states or Flower Foods Inc. Swiss Rolls, which salmonella may be present in whey powder.

No matter if there are reported cases of salmonella, or not- grocery stores and food manufacturers take no chances in customer safety.

“A lot of these recall manufacturers will provide a certain lot,” Holwege said. “They will provide us with certain information on what the lot number maybe or what the expiration date may be on each of those lots so that we can monitor each of those so they are not going through the store.”

The infection pops up more than you think.

“We get it reported here, in Idaho Falls [and] Bonneville County, monthly,” Taylor said. “We see maybe a few cases.”

If you have any of the products being recalled, do not eat them.

Taylor also says to keep yourself safe from salmonella, to make sure you cook your food thoroughly, to at least 145 degrees or hotter. As well, be careful of cross-contamination. Avoid using the same cutting board for food items.

The number one best thing you can do to avoid salmonella Taylor says is wash your hands frequently.

CDC estimates salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses, 23-thousand hospitalizations, and 450 deaths in the United States every year.

Food is the source of about 1 million of these illnesses.

You can view a list of recalled foods HERE.