Listeriosis is a serious infection, usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes
- can survive freezing, drying, heat, and high levels of acid, salinity, and alcohol
- can grow at standard refrigerator temperature (40F)
- this could be a problem in ready-to-eat foods that are not cooked before eating
Listeriosis can cause a variety of symptoms
- depending on the person and part of the body affected
- Listeria can cause fever and diarrhea, similar to other foodborne germs,
- but this type of Listeria infection is rarely diagnosed.
- Symptoms of invasive listeriosis…
- meaning the bacteria has spread beyond the gut…
- depends on whether the person is pregnant.
- meaning the bacteria has spread beyond the gut…
Pregnant women typically experience
- only fever and other flu-like symptoms,
- such as fatigue and muscle aches.
Infections during pregnancy can lead to
- miscarriage,
- stillbirth,
- premature delivery or
- life-threatening infection of the newborn.
What are some of the usual foods that contain Listeria?
SOFT CHEESES:
- when made with unpasteurized milk (raw milk)
- is more likely to cause listeriosis than
- when made with pasteurized milk
- is more likely to cause listeriosis than
- Although pasteurization of milk kills Listeria,
- products can still get contaminated
- if made under unsanitary conditions.
- products can still get contaminated
Precautions:
For those at higher risk of listeriosis – pregnant women, older adults, and people with weak immunity:
- Avoid eating soft cheese unless it is labeled “Made with pasteurized milk.”
RAW SPROUTS grow and sprout under warm and humid conditions.
- These conditions are also ideal for the growth of bacteria, including Listeria.
For those at higher risk of Listeriosis:
- Avoid raw or lightly cooked sprouts of any kind (alfalfa, clover, radish, mung bean sprouts etc.).
- Cook sprouts well.
- If you buy a pre-made sandwich, salad, or Asian food, ask to leave out raw sprouts.
Melons
- Eat cut melon right away or
- keep it refrigerated at 41° F or cooler
- throw away or compost after 7 days.
- keep it refrigerated at 41° F or cooler
- Throw away or compost cut melon left at room temperature for more than 4 hours.
Hot dogs, pâtés, lunch meats, and cold cuts:
- Avoid juice from hot dog and lunch meat packages from dripping on
- other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces.
- Wash hands after handling all meats.
- other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces.
- Throw away opened packages of hot dogs after 1 week in the refrigerator.
- Throw away unopened packages of hot dogs after 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
How long can you store lunch and deli meat?
- Throw away factory-sealed, unopened packages after 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Throw away opened packages and meat sliced at a local deli after 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
What should people at higher risk of Listeriosis do?
- Avoid eating hot dogs, lunch meats, cold cuts, other deli meats (such as bologna), and fermented or dry sausages unless heated to
- an internal temperature of 165°F or
- until steaming hot
- just before serving.
- until steaming hot
- an internal temperature of 165°F or
- Avoid refrigerated pâté and meat spreads from a deli or meat counter or from the refrigerated section of a store.
- A safer choice would be:
- meat spreads and pâté in cans, jars or sealed pouches that do not need refrigeration before opening.
- Refrigerate these after opening.
- A safer choice would be:
Recommendations for people at higher risk of Listeriosis:
- Avoid cold smoked fish unless they are canned or shelf-stable or in a cooked dish, such as a casserole.
Lastly, avoid raw (unpasteurized) milk and products made from raw milk, including yogurt and ice cream.
- Look for the word “pasteurized” on the label.
- If in doubt about the product, don’t buy it!
- Keep milk and milk products refrigerated at 40°F or colder.
How do you know when to seek medical help?
In people other than pregnant women:
- symptoms can include
- headache
- stiff neck
- confusion
- loss of balance and
- convulsions
- in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Again, individuals at higher risk of serious listeriosis include:
- Pregnant women
- 10 times more likely than other people to get Listeria infection
- Adults who are 65 years and older
- 4 times more likely than other people in the United States to get Listeria infections.
- More than half of all Listeria infections occur in people 65 and older.
- 4 times more likely than other people in the United States to get Listeria infections.
- People with weak immune systems
- People with cancer
- 10 times more likely than other people to get Listeria infection
- People on dialysis
- 50 times more likely than other people to get Listeria infection
- Treatments that make it more difficult for the body to fight off illness:
- steroids and chemotherapy…
- can increase the chance of Listeria infection.
- steroids and chemotherapy…
- People with cancer