Foodborne Outbreak Investigation

Salmonella is a bacterial illness that comes from food and causes an individual to have food poisoning, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms Nordqvist, 2016). A person can contract the bacteria by eating uncooked or undercooked meat, poultry and eggs. Fruits that have been exposed to salmonella are also carriers of the bacteria. Salmonella can also be spread from an individual coming in contact with a carrier of the bacteria. Practicing poor hygiene can cause the spread of salmonella to grow rapid. Besides found in food, salmonella is often found in the guts and feces of reptiles and amphibians Nordqvist, 2016). Once Salmonella has been contracted, an individual will start to notice symptoms 12 to 36 hours after initial …show more content…
As a field investigator, I conduct interviews and record observations to construct a overview of event ouccurences. Before starting the interviews and observations I had to ensure I had proper scientific knowledge about Salmonella and the apparatus needed to complete an investigation (Key Players in Foodborne Outbreak Response, 2015). A microbiologist, another team member, studies bacteria such as Salmonella and will help be a consultant on how quickly the illness will spread, and who is at risk (Key Players in Foodborne Outbreak Response, 2015). Another team member will be a environmental health specialist who will help find out what hazards and issues are promoting the outbreak (Key Players in Foodborne Outbreak Response, 2015). A regulatory compliance officer and inspector ensures Tiger Tots are following all necessary steps and rules for preparing food, especially preparing meat, fruits, and eggs. (Key Players in Foodborne Outbreak Response, …show more content…
The children’s day consisted of eating oatmeal and strawberries for breakfast, chicken patties, green beans, and celery for lunch, and crackers and cheese for snack. In between meals, the children played outside and were introduced to their new classroom pet, Samson, the turtle. The second question I asked addressed what they believed caused the illness. The parents and teacher all suggested that the Salmonella came from the possibly undercooked chicken patty. Although everyone had the exposure of the chicken patty, they also did everything during the day together. The schedule, location, and food intake were all factors that were shared among those who contracted the illness. The last question I asked was if the children had any contact with Samson the turtle. Every child said yes, except two girls did not touch the turtles with bare hands. The girls used gloves to pet the