A Harmful Bacteria, Salmonella, Can Survive For Months In Cookie And Cracker Fillings, Study Reveals

According to a study, Salmonella, a bacteria that is responsible for some foodborne illnesses, can survive for at least 6 months inside cookie and cracker fillings.

The University of Georgia reported that a study is led by Larry Beuchat, a notable Professor Emeritus and a researcher in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, and was published in the Journal of Food Protection -- warning consumers to be smarter in buying cookies and biscuits.

The researchers wanted to know how long the bacteria can survive in some particular foods. There are also a number of outbreaks of foodborne illnesses that are associated to dry or low-water-activity foods. These reported cases motivated them to act and commence the study.

They found out that Salmonella can live in dry foods such as cracker sandwiches and cookies -- even lasting for periods of time. "There have been an increased number of outbreaks of disease associated with consumption of contaminated dry foods. We wouldn't expect salmonella to grow in foods that have a very dry environment," Beuchat explained.

"The next step would be to test all ingredients that are used in these foods," Beuchat added. "If the pathogens are visible in particular ingredients then the use of those ingredients must be stopped," he concluded.

Medical News Today states that Salmonella is a rod-shaped bacillus that can cause certain diseases such as diarrhea, food poisoning, typhoid fever, enteric fever, gastroenteritis and other illnesses. It may also cause an infection called Salmonellosis.

Most foods that are infected with salmonella are uncooked eggs, poultry, seafood and meat as well as contaminated fruits and vegetables, lack of hygiene, and can also be acquired from amphibians or pet reptiles. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 1.4 million Americans that are infected with Salmonellosis annually -- killing 500 people. Watch this video to learn how to treat certain conditions caused by Salmonella.