ABSTRACTThe use of DNA probes for rapid identification of foodborne pathogens is an emerging field. We have standardized a method for the detection ofSalmonellain food samples by using a specific insertion sequence (IS‐200) ofSalmonellachromosomal DNA as the probe. The procedure for colony hybridization, and washing conditions for the stringency were established. All the tenSalmonellastrains, belonging to various serotypes tested were positive while 18 other bacterial cultures, mainly belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae such as E. coliShigella, Proteusetc., were negative in colony hybridization. The sensitivity of the detection was found to be 105cfu using32P‐labeled probe. We surveyed 16 chicken and 6 fish samples from local market using IS‐200 probe after preenrichment and selective enrichment. All the samples tested were found positive with DNA probe. The major strains ofSalmonellaisolated from these samples wereS. gallinarum, S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. choleraesuisandS. paratyphiA. These results were confirmed by standardSalmonellaidentification m