Can also be spread through cross-contamination betwee poulty and meat products. E.coli has also been associated with outbreaks involving fresh produce and apple cider. Improper hand washing procedures can spread this bacteria. Staph bacteria are found on our skin, in infected cuts and pimples, and in our noses and throats. Staph can multiply rapidly at warm temperatures to produce a toxin that causes illness.
Staph bacteria prefer cooked food high in protein.
They also grow in foods high in sugar or salt. All employees should wear proper bandages and gloves when handling food. Other sources include unpasteurized milk, untreated drinking water and rodents. This is also why it is critical to return product to cold storage as soon as practical. As bacteria multiply in a food product they create toxins which will not normally be eliminated by cooking, regardles of how high the temperature is.