Background: Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a serious foodborne pathogen that has previously been isolated from pigs presented for slaughter in a rural pork value chain in western Kenya.
Methods: To understand varying NTS contamination along the value chain we assessed prevalence at slaughter, transport and retail. Suspect isolates from culture were confirmed using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.
Results: Prevalence on pig carcasses, meat transportation containers, retailed raw and cooked pork and accompanying side salads was 18.1%, 23.9%, 28.0%, 1.9% and 8.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: NTS contamination is propagated along the pork value chain in rural western Kenya, demonstrating the need for improved hygiene measures to prevent human exposure.
Keywords: food safety; foodborne disease; non-typhoidal Salmonella; pork meat; salmonellosis.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.