What is Salmonella and what can you do to avoid catching it? 

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/24/what-is-salmonella-and-what-can-you-do-to-avoid-catching-it/ Salmonella is the group of bacteria behind one of the most common types of food poisoning in the UK, and while for most people it means a few unpleasant days at home, for others it can lead to serious illness. With UKHSA currently helping to investigate a national outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK, we've answered some of the questions we're most commonly asked about this bacteria, the symptoms it causes, and how we track it. What is Salmonella? There are more than 2,500 different types of Salmonella. These bacteria live naturally in the guts of many domestic and wild animals, including chickens, cattle, pigs, hedgehogs, snakes and lizards. The type most commonly responsible for making people ill in England is Salmonella Enteritidis. Infection with Salmonella is known as salmonellosis. How do you catch Salmonella? Most people become infected through eating contaminated food. Salmonella can be found in foods such as eggs, chicken, pork and dairy products. Fruit and vegetables can also carry the bacteria if they've been in contact with livestock, manure o...