In order to investigate the contamination situation and understand the dynamic changes of Salmonella contamination in food, the food-borne Salmonella in retail meats was detected and analyzed during 2010and 2012in Urumqi, Xinjiang.MethodsThe Salmonella in retail meats (chicken, lamb, beef, pork) was isolated, identified and further serotyped according to National Standard GB/T 4789.1-2010. ResultsA total of 1406samples of retail meats were examined from 2010to 2012, the infection rate of Salmonella was 9.14% in chicken, 9.06% in pork, 8.05% in mutton and 6.44% in beef. Among 123strains recovered in the study, 4serogroups and 7serotypes were identified as S.Enteritidis (n=17), S.Sao (n=9), S.Tarshyne (n=8), S.Uganda (n=6), S.Concord (n=3), S.Thomson (n=3) and S.Derby (n=2), undefined 75seroproups.ConclusionThe contamination of different Salmonella phenotypes existed in retail meats in Urumqi and could not be ignored, and the hygiene and quarantine of retail meats should be strengthened to prevent and control the salmonellosis.