A scare of Listeria bacteria has been the deadliest food outbreak in 10 years in the United States:
Chat Me More really became concerned when it was reported that listeria can take up two months before symptoms occur. A new outbreak has been found in Romaine lettuce and 16 people have died from listeria bacteria that was traced to cantaloupes. A recent recall on bags of chopped Romaine lettuce has been issued. The lettuce is from True Leaf Farms of Salinas, California with a date to be used by September 29. It was distributed in Alaska by Church Brothers, LLC. The Cantaloupes were out of Colorado by Jensen Farms.
Listeria grows in moist muddy areas and is often carried by animals. The bacteria is usually found in unpasteurized foods and generally found in processed meats. Finding listeria in produce comes as a shock, in 1998 there was a outbreak of listeria that killed 21 people, but from deli meats and hot dogs. In 1985 another outbreak found in Mexican soft cheese and that killed 52 people.
Listeria can grow in room temperature and even in refrigerator temperatures and can linger even after the contaminates are gone.
To prevent the disease:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20113269-10391704.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/30/health/main20113757.shtml
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/listeriosis/fact_sheet.htm
Chat Me More really became concerned when it was reported that listeria can take up two months before symptoms occur. A new outbreak has been found in Romaine lettuce and 16 people have died from listeria bacteria that was traced to cantaloupes. A recent recall on bags of chopped Romaine lettuce has been issued. The lettuce is from True Leaf Farms of Salinas, California with a date to be used by September 29. It was distributed in Alaska by Church Brothers, LLC. The Cantaloupes were out of Colorado by Jensen Farms.
Listeria grows in moist muddy areas and is often carried by animals. The bacteria is usually found in unpasteurized foods and generally found in processed meats. Finding listeria in produce comes as a shock, in 1998 there was a outbreak of listeria that killed 21 people, but from deli meats and hot dogs. In 1985 another outbreak found in Mexican soft cheese and that killed 52 people.
Listeria can grow in room temperature and even in refrigerator temperatures and can linger even after the contaminates are gone.
To prevent the disease:
- 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 pasteurized 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.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20113269-10391704.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/30/health/main20113757.shtml
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/listeriosis/fact_sheet.htm
