In Illinois about 1,500 to 2,500 cases of this foodborne illness are reported each year. Salmonella is a general name for a group of about 2,000 closely related bacteria that cause illness by reproducing in the digestive tract. Each salmonella subgroup, or serotype, shares common antigens and has its own name. Salmonella bacteria is found wherever animals live. The bacteria can withstand hot and cold weather, rain and drought.
Animals consume salmonella from the soil or contaminated processed feed.
The bacteria are then shed alive in the infected animal's feces. The animal may or may not be sick, depending on the bacteria's serotype. During slaughtering and processing, salmonella may contaminate animal carcasses. In recent years, fresh fruits and vegetables have been implicated in outbreaks of salmonellosis. Tomatoes were identified as the culprit in 1990 and 1993 and, in 1990 and 1991, cantaloupes were linked to salmonellosis.