To better understand the epidemiology of bacterial food borne pathogens in children, in relation to pathogens in meats from a market in rural Thailand, we collected 73 cultures samples from raw chicken, pork and fish at a local market where diarrheal disease surveillance was conducted. Standard methods were employed to isolate, identify and serotype enteric pathogens from children and food samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. Ninety-seven percent of food samples were contaminated with at least one enteric pathogen. The pathogens most commonly isolated from food were Salmonella spp (84%), Arcobacter butzleri (74%) and Campylobacter spp (51%). The most common serovars of Salmonella obtained from humans with diarrhea were S. Risen, S. Stanley and S. Anatum. Most common serovars of Salmonella isolated from food were S. Anatum, S. Stanley, and S. Corvallis. Fifty-one percent and 25% of children infected with Salmonella and Campylobacter, respectively, infected with the same serotypes isolated from food samples, suggesting these pathogens are widespread in food and humans. Pulsed-field gel analysis of Salmonella spp revealed 65 pulsotypes, but no point-sources of salmonellosis were identified. Joint epidemiologic/laboratory studies are useful to describe the epidemiology of enteric pathogens in rural populations.