Listeria Outbreak

 

Foodborne outbreaks caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes are not uncommon occurrences in the United States. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified four outbreaks involving packaged salads and processed chicken and cheese. So far this year, cheese and ice cream have been sources of listeriosis, an intestinal infection which can be especially severe in pregnant women and their fetuses or newborn infants, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems.

Last week, the CDC issued a warning about a new outbreak of listeriosis tied to deli meats and cheeses:

You are at higher risk for severe Listeria illness if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you are in any of these groups, do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.

 

By Wednesday, the CDC was investigating 16 cases of the disease in 6 states:

Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that meat and cheese from deli counters contaminated with Listeria are making people sick. Investigators are still working to identify any specific products or delis that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain.

Of 14 people with information available, 13 have been hospitalized, including one Maryland resident who died. One person got sick during their pregnancy, resulting in pregnancy loss.

 

Deli meats and cheeses have been implicated in several previous outbreaks over the last decade:

Deli meats (cold cuts, lunch meats, hot dogs, and pâtés sold at the deli) and cheeses are known sources of Listeria illnesses. This is because Listeria can easily spread among food on deli countertops, deli slicers, surfaces, and hands. Listeria is a hardy germ that can be difficult to fully remove once it is in the deli. It can survive and grow at cold temperatures in the refrigerator.

 

The CDC recommends that people in high risk groups take the following precautions:

• Do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.

> This is because Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.

• Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched deli meat or cheese from the deli.

• Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of severe Listeria illness after eating meat or cheese from a deli:

> People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

> Pregnant people usually experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.

 

Each year, there are approximately 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses in the United States (affecting about 1 in 6 Americans) resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths, according to CDC statistics. Listeria causes approximately 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths annually in the U.S.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers recommendations for everyone to help prevent foodborne illnesses like listeriosis:

Washing and handling food

• Rinse raw produce, such as fruits and vegetables, thoroughly under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking. Even if the produce will be peeled, it should still be washed first.

• Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.

• Dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.

• Separate uncooked meats and poultry from vegetables, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods.

 

Keep your kitchen and environment cleaner and safer

• Wash hands, knives, countertops, and cutting boards after handling and preparing uncooked foods.

• Be aware that Listeria monocytogenes can grow in foods in the refrigerator. Use an appliance thermometer, such as a refrigerator thermometer, to check the temperature inside your refrigerator. The refrigerator temperature should be 40°F or lower and the freezer temperature should be 0°F or lower.

• Clean up all spills in your refrigerator right away–especially juices from hot dog and lunch meat packages, raw meat, and raw poultry.

• Clean the inside walls and shelves of your refrigerator with hot water and liquid soap, then rinse.

 

Cook meat and poultry thoroughly

• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry to a safe internal temperature. For a list of recommended temperatures for meat and poultry, visit the safe minimum cooking temperatures chart at FoodSafety.gov (www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/mintemp.html).

 

Store foods safely

• Use precooked or ready-to-eat food as soon as you can. Do not store the product in the refrigerator beyond the use-by date; follow USDA refrigerator storage time guidelines:

• Hot dogs – store opened package no longer than 1 week and unopened package no longer than 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

• Luncheon and deli meat – store factory-sealed, unopened package no longer than 2 weeks. Store opened packages and meat sliced at a local deli no longer than 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

• Divide leftovers into shallow containers to promote rapid, even cooling. Cover with airtight lids or enclose in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Use leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

 

 

(Google Images)

 

source http://www.thepediablog.com/2022/11/14/listeria-outbreak/