Nasty bacteria that you want to avoid

Salmonella: the second most common cause of food poisoning after campylobacter. It has been discovered in unpasteurised milk, eggs and raw egg products, meat and poultry. It can survive if the food is not cooked properly. It can cause three different kinds of illness: gastroenteritis, typhoid fever and bacteraemia, which is a bacterial infection of the blood.

Escherichia Coli (E.Coli): Most strains of E.coli are harmless and heat can kill them, but strains that produce verocytotoxin may cause severe illness. In the UK, E.coli O157 is the most common type. E.coli O157:H7 infection is characterised by the sudden onset of abdominal pain and severe cramps, followed by diarrhoea within 24 hours. E.coli may be found vegetables grown in cow manure or washed in contaminated water, and in undercooked ground beef.

Listeria monocytogenes: is present all around in the environment. It has been found in soft mould-ripened cheeses and pates. A listeria infection may cause fever, soreness of the neck and vomiting or diarrhoea. Pregnant women are about 20-times more likely than other healthy adults to contract listeriosis, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth.

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