MNN - Mother Nature Network

The magnitude of the recent egg recall has many consumers wondering what the symptoms of salmonella poisoning look like.

 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the onset of salmonella symptoms can take anywhere from six to 48 hours following the ingestion of contaminated food or drink.

 

Symptoms include the following:

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the illness typically lasts four to seven days and that most people recover without antibiotic treatment.

 

The diarrhea, however, can be severe and may require hospitalization.

 

While most people can expect to recover, the CDC notes that the elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems may be at risk for more severe infections. These patients are in particular danger if the salmonella spreads from the intestines to the blood stream and then on to other parts of the body. This type of infection can result in death if it is not treated promptly.

 

On August 13, Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa issued a nationwide recall of 228 million eggs after they were linked to salmonella outbreaks in Colorado, California and Minnesota.

 

The eggs were distributed around the country and packaged under the names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemp.

 

More resources for salmonella symptoms:

• U.S. FDA page on salmonella

• U.S. CDC page on the recent salmonella outbreak

 

See also:

• Egg recall numbers: Here’s the list