My parents probably saved me from Salmonella
I always wanted a pet turtle. When I was 10, I was really into comics (nerd alert). There was a comic book store in between my school and house, that I used to spend lots of time at, and all of my allowance. Right around that time, an underground comic book from creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird made its debut: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What a ridiculous concept, but the coolest thing to this 10-year-old comic nerd. This was before the really cheesy cartoon, and even cheesier movies. When the Ninja Turtles were cool.
I made nunchaku and a bo staff out of broomsticks and chains from the hardware store. I was a 10-year-old blonde-haired Canadian Napoleon Dynamite.
All of this background to set this up: I also begged my parents for a pet turtle. I was going to keep him in my room, and call him Leonardo. My parents refused and got me a cat instead.
I know it had little to do with pathogen concerns, and lots to do with the potential smell. However, I'm grateful they shielded me from Salmonellosis.
This week's food safety infosheet is all about reptile-related food safety concerns.
Download the infosheet here.
Salmonella can come from pets
Yesterday, a local story in a county newspaper in Texas carried the headline, “Salmonella can come from pets.”
The story reported, 
“Three cases of salmonella among children in Lubbock County since December 2008 are likely the result of exposure to reptiles, said Judy Davis, a spokeswoman for the city of Lubbock health department.”
The spokeswoman explained that handwashing is the key to preventing salmonella associated with reptiles and amphibians, such as snakes and turtles.
I just wanted to point out that, although less of a problem, handwashing is also important for preventing salmonella infections from furry pets.
In 1999, the CDC received reports from three state health departments of outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Salmonella serotype Typhimurium infections in employees and clients of small animal veterinary clinics and an animal shelter.
The CDC’s report stated,
“Salmonella infections usually are acquired by eating contaminated food [including produce and peanut butter]; however, direct contact with infected animals, including dogs and cats, also can result in exposure and infection.”
Doug and Phebus, at the end of the lengthy video (from September 2008) below, also recommend washing your hands after handling food and treats for your pets… especially when they’ve been recalled.
Don't kiss turtles, even in Britain
The UK Health Protection Agency reports that cases of Salmonella Arizonae have been on the increase and can be particularly harmful to infants.
The Telegraph reports that Dr Tansy Peters told the HPA's annual conference,
"Although it is comparatively rare in humans, a study of samples submitted to our laboratory for testing from January 1998 to December 2007 shows that there has been a significant increase in both numerical and percentage terms.
"That may be a reflection of the increased popularity of reptiles as pets.
"This is a very worrying trend and infants and young children with their immature immune systems and weaker gastric acids are disproportionately affected. We even find cases in breast and formula-fed infants and it is unlikely that they acquired their infection from a source other than indirectly, via the parents, from the family's pet reptile. Reptiles shed salmonella in their faeces and carry it on their skin and the public health implications of this inside the home should not be underestimated."
And if you have them in the home, don't kiss them.
