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Listeria

Listeria is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes bacteria. The bacteria has been found in uncooked meats and vegetables, processed foods such as soft cheeses, and cold cuts, hot dogs, and unpasteurized milk.

Processed foods often become contaminated after cooking but before packaging.

The disease primarily affects seniors, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors may also be affected.

Signs & Symptoms: many people are asymptomatic (without symptoms) but symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Muscle Aches
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Stiff Neck
• Confusion
• Loss of Balance
• Seizures

Prevention:

• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, and poultry.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep raw meats separate from vegetables, cooked foods, and ready to eat foods.
• Don't drink unpasteurized milk or eat foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after handling raw foods.
• Consume perishable and ready to eat foods as soon as possible.

Additional guidelines for those at high risk:

• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
• Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food prep surfaces.
• Wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
• Do not eat soft cheeses such as Feta, Brie, and Camembert, Blue Cheeses, or Mexican style cheeses such as Queso Blanco, Queso Fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.
• Do not eat refrigerated pates or meat spreads.
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood (salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, mackerel) or any seafood labeled (nova style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky) unless contained in a cooked dish or casserole.