Listeria Especially Dangerous For Pregnant Women
A Michigan listeriosis outbreak that may be linked to cheeses produced by a Dearborn dairy has prompted health officials to warn consumers about he dangers of Listeria and to remind pregnant women that they are at particular risk.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that is found almost everywhere in the environment, but listeriosis, a Listeria infection, is most often caused by eating food that’s been tainted by the bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one in six (17%) cases of listeriosis occurs during pregnancy, according to the CDC.
Listeriosis usually causes flu-like symptoms including: fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea and upset stomach. In severe cases, it can also cause headaches, stiff neck, convulsions or death. Among pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, birth defects or other serious health problems for newborns, even if the expectant mother shows no signs of illness, according to the CDC.
The U.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have compiled the following advice to limit risk of foodborne illness during pregnancy:
- Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
- Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined 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 pâté or meat spreads.
- Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is an ingredient in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Examples of refrigerated smoked seafood include salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel which are most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." This fish is found in the refrigerated section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens.
- Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.
- Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
- Use all refrigerated perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat as soon as possible.
- Clean your refrigerator regularly.
- -Use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure that the refrigerator always stays at 40 °F or below.
