Here’s What You Need to Know About All the Listeria Outbreaks—And What Foods Are Affected

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

Here’s What You Need to Know About All the Listeria Outbreaks—And What Foods Are Affected

You’ve probably heard about the recent Listeria-related recalls. Here’s what you need to know.

Getty Images / Allrecipes

" fifu-data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/XQV3R4OVbSABEK6wUetfRg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/all_recipes_969/8f850cf2080337417e1926f66e274f37">data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==

Getty Images / Allrecipes

You’re not imagining it—Listeria outbreaks have been on the rise in recent weeks. Listeriosis has sickened more than 30 people in 13 states

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

and two deaths have been reported. Affected products include

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

and several varieties of

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis every year, according to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, and about 260 **** as a result of the infection. Here’s what you need to know about listeriosis—and how to avoid infection:

What Is Listeria?

Listeriosis is an infection caused by ingesting foods contaminated by a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, according to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. Cases are usually mild, but can be fatal—it’s particularly dangerous for pregnant people, people with weakened immune systems, or people over 65 years old.

Listeria occurs naturally in soil, water, decaying vegetation, and the intestinal tracts of animals. It becomes a problem for humans during the food production and manufacturing process, when food is packaged or handled improperly.

Unlike other foodborne bacteria, Listeria can grow in refrigerator temperatures (40 degrees F and below). This means that the longer Listeria-contaminated products are stored in the fridge, the more time the bacteria has to multiply.

High-Risk Foods

These foods pose a higher than normal risk of containing Listeria,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

:

Products made with raw or unpasteurized dairy (such as soft cheeses, milk, or ice cream)

Refrigerated, unheated deli meats

Raw or undercooked hot dogs

Refrigerated smoked seafood or uncooked seafood

Soft-boiled or uncooked eggs

Raw or lightly cooked sprouts

Listeriosis Symptoms

There’s no hard-and-fast rule on when listeriosis symptoms develop. You might start feeling under the weather just a few hours after eating contaminated food, or you might not get ***** until a few days later. Here are some common symptoms:

Fever and chills

Muscle aches

Diarrhea

Nausea

Vomiting

In more severe cases, listeriosis can affect the nervous system. If that happens, a ***** person might experience:

How to Prevent Listeriosis

At-risk people or caregivers can take steps to prevent Listeria infection. For instance:

Practice good

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water before, during, and after the cooking process is one of the best ways to prevent

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

. It’s equally important to wash your cooking utensils, such as knives and cutting boards, after working with high-risk foods. Of course, you should clean and sanitize your refrigerator and countertops regularly (and immediately after you discover a recalled product in your kitchen).

Fully cook your deli meat. High-risk consumers might want to opt for a grilled sandwich, rather than a cold sandwich, and should always make sure their hot dogs are cooked until steaming before eating.

Pay attention to recalls. When there’s a recall, the FDA will typically send out a press release announcing the affected products and the states in which they were sold. Media outlets, such as Allrecipes, will then report on the recalls. If you see that a product you have at home has been affected, throw it away immediately. You can also refer to the record of Listeria-related recalls

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

What to Do If You Get Listeriosis

If you suspect you might have listeriosis or have eaten something that might be contaminated, the first thing you should do is call your doctor.

People with mild cases may just need to drink lots of fluids and stay near a bathroom for a few days, but staying on top of your symptoms (and in contact with your doctor) is extremely important—a mild infection can become a life-threatening emergency quickly, especially for people with weakened immune systems. 

Read the original article on

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Heres #Listeria #OutbreaksAnd #Foods #Affected

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up