Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog,Salmonella on June 25, 2026
Cesar salad: one of my favorite things! It has been my salad of choice for years and years. Just something about it is delicious and so, so refreshing. Recently I did learn about the “real” ingredients in a traditional Cesar salad, and I was a bit shocked. Now granted I have not been getting these made in any type of fancy place and often I just buy a bottle of dressing at the grocery store, but I had to come here and share my findings with you all. Is Cesar salad safe to eat? Let’s find out!
Caesar salad’s origins are a bit of a question mark. While there’s some uncertainty around who invented the famous salad, we know the basic elements.
The salad typically includes romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a dressing made of anchovies, olive oil, garlic, lemon, egg yolks, and Dijon mustard.
But not all Caesar salads are created equal in today’s creative culinary world. Chefs and home cooks have been experimenting with the recipe, reinventing it in ways to simplify the process and in some cases, make it more nutritious.
Sometimes you’ll see kale and other lettuces used alongside or instead of romaine, or you’ll find croutons made from cornbread or a whole-grain ciabatta. You also might find additions, such as avocado, tomatoes, and bell peppers.
Caesar salad is often served with a protein source like grilled chicken, blackened salmon, nuts, or sautéed tofu.
Caesar salad is typically served with its own dressing, which is called Caesar dressing. It’s made from anchovies, garlic, egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, oil, salt and Parmesan cheese.
Several varieties of Caesar dressing are available, including regular, light, and fat-free. You can also find vegan dressings that are made with avocado oil or other plant-based oils instead of eggs. Homemade dressing is also an option.
Traditional Caesar dressing often contains raw egg yolks, which can carry a risk of salmonella infection. Using pasteurized eggs or making a homemade dressing without raw eggs significantly reduces this risk. Additionally, commercial dressings may contain high sodium and added sugars, which can impact heart health and blood pressure if consumed frequently.
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and are shed through stool (feces). Humans become infected most frequently through contaminated water or food.
Some people with salmonella infection have no symptoms. Most people develop diarrhea, fever and stomach (abdominal) cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure. Most healthy people recover within a few days to a week without specific treatment.
In some cases, diarrhea can cause severe dehydration and requires prompt medical attention. Life-threatening complications also may develop if the infection spreads beyond the intestines. The risk of getting salmonella infection is higher with travel to countries without clean drinking water and proper sewage disposal.
Salmonella infection is usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs or egg products or by drinking unpasteurized milk. The incubation period — the time between exposure and illness — can be 6 hours to 6 days. Often, people who have salmonella infection think they have the stomach flu.
Possible signs and symptoms of salmonella infection include:
Signs and symptoms of salmonella infection generally last a few days to a week. Diarrhea may last up to 10 days, but it may take several months before bowels return to usual stool habits.
A few varieties of salmonella bacteria result in typhoid fever, a sometimes deadly disease that is more common in developing countries.
Most people don’t need to seek medical attention for salmonella infection because it clears up on its own within a few days.
However, if the affected person is an infant, young child, older adult or someone with a weakened immune system, call a health care provider if illness:
For more information on foodborne illnesses and popular food topics please follow Make Food Safe.