How salmonella gets into dry food

Salmonella is becoming more prevalent in dry, processed food such as crackers and cereal. Researchers say the bacteria can adapt to dry conditions, heat, or sanitizing by forming a biofilm, or protective coating, around itself. The bacteria stops reproducing but survives.

Bacteria spreads

Bacteria gets into food by fecal contamination, usually through unsanitary conditions in food processing, such as:

Contaminated water used in crop irrigation Workers not washing hands Equipment not thoroughly cleaned The bacteria can lie dormant until consumed. Then infection can start. SOURCE vtnews.vt.edu; FoodSafety.gov; howstuffworks.com; USA TODAY research