Food Poisoning Law Blog

The following is from a North Carolina Division of Public Health press release.

Officials with the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH) are cautioning pregnant women against consumption of soft cheeses, hot dogs, deli-style meats and prepared salads.  The warning comes after three cases of listeriosis were identified in Moore, Durham and Mecklenburg counties and a probable case was identified in Buncombe County.

The three confirmed cases all involved pregnant women; two of them had miscarriages. All three of the women had consumed soft cheese from a variety of sources. Although the cases occurred close together in time, data from molecular testing conducted at the State Laboratory of Public Health showed that different strains were involved. A single product does not seem to be the source of these cases, prompting public health officials to issue a general Listeria warning.   

Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.  The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis outbreaks have been associated with consumption of unpasteurized (raw) milk and contaminated soft cheeses, vegetables and ready-to-eat meats.  

“This is a tragedy, which could have been avoided,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. Jeff Engel.  “Listeriosis can be prevented by avoiding unpasteurized milk and other potentially contaminated food, especially among vulnerable people.” Vulnerable people include pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. About a third of the people with confirmed cases of listeriosis are pregnant women. Read about Listeria and pregnancy.

According to NCDPH, general recommendations to avoid listeriosis include:

• Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources.
• Wash raw vegetables before eating.
• Wash hands, knives and cutting board after handling uncooked foods.
• Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.

NCDPH also recommends that people at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems, take the following precautions in addition to those above:

• 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 preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
• 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 pastuerized milk.
• Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked" or "jerky." The fish is found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.