Salmonella is one of the organisms that can cause the illness called food poisoning. It is present in a very high percentage of raw poultry, but is destroyed by cooking. It is a public health hazard when it contaminates foods that are not cooked, like salad ingredients and fruits.
Proper handling of raw foods and cooking to high enough temperatures to kill naturally occuring organisms is essential or you will get food poisoning.
You must not allow anything that touched the raw food to touch the cooked food or the cooked food can become re-contaminated.
We used to be much more aware of these issues because we processed our own food. Now it all comes from the market in a very nice looking package and we have to remember that it needs special handling.
Actually, our food supply is safer than it has ever been. Interstingly, our knowledge of how to handle food safely seems to be decreasing
Despite mass media campaigns explaining safe kitchen practices and guidelines for the safe handling of the Thanksgiving bird and stuffing, the number of food poisoning cases continues to rise every year after the holiday meal.
Have a kitchen safe and Happy Thanksgiving
Godspeed
Angel