Which statement accurately describes Salmonella?

• A. Found in improperly stored/undercooked poultry; incubation 12-72 hours; illness lasts 4-7 days.
• B. Only found in seafood and water.
• C. Incubation is 1-2 hours and lasts 8 hours.
• D. Transmitted only through air.

Answer: (A)

Salmonella is a bacterial cause of foodborne illness that people most often get from poultry and eggs when foods are not stored safely or are undercooked, or when there’s cross-contamination from raw poultry. After ingesting contaminated food, symptoms usually appear within about 12 to 72 hours, and the illness typically lasts around 4 to 7 days. This combination—a common source in poultry, the 12–72 hour onset window, and a duration of about 4–7 days—fits the real pattern of Salmonella infections.

It’s not limited to seafood and water, and the incubation isn’t as short as 1–2 hours, since Salmonella infections generally take longer to produce symptoms. Transmission also isn’t airborne; it’s primarily through the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or surfaces.