As far as I know you are still at way more risk for salmonella from your own cutting board/kitchen counter at home or from the local fast food joint, then from your reptile. Just as a matter of course we have a couple of standard rules in our house for adults and kids....wash well with hot, soapy water after handling the snakes or rats...and you aren't allowed to play kissy face with anything that can lick it's own butt LOL.