KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Listeria can lead to serious complications, especially in pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems.
- Common sources of Listeria include unpasteurized dairy products, deli meats, and premade salads; it can also grow in refrigerators.
- Key prevention methods in restaurants include maintaining hand hygiene, kitchen sanitation, proper food temperature management, and sourcing food from reputable vendors.
Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, is caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which enters the body through contaminated food. Listeria does not always become invasive, but when it does, it is a life-threatening illness.
Listeriosis is the third-leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. Pregnant women are more than ten times as likely as the general population to contract listeriosis. Adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems also have a heightened risk compared to the general population.
The most common food sources of listeria include the following:
- Unpasteurized dairy products
- Unheated cheeses sliced at delis
- Unheated cold cuts, hot dogs, and fermented or dry sausages
- Premade deli salads
- Refrigerated pate or meat spreads
- Refrigerated smoked fish
- Raw or lightly cooked sprouts
- Cut melons, like watermelons, honeydews, or canteloupes
- Enoki mushrooms
Listeria can spread from food service equipment onto the food and vice versa. It can also grow in the refrigerator.
What Happens to You If You Get Listeria?
The most common effect of listeria is mild intestinal illness unless it spreads beyond the intestines and turns into invasive listeriosis. When listeria becomes invasive in pregnant women, they typically experience mild effects. The expectant mother may experience the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
Listeria primarily targets the fetus. As a result, the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in a newborn is high. Approximately 20 percent of infected fetuses die from listeria.
Non-pregnant people who contract listeria can develop serious infections in any part of the body, including sepsis and meningitis. Symptoms may include stiff neck, seizures, loss of balance, and fever. According to the CDC, approximately 87 percent of non-pregnant listeria patients require hospitalization. It is often fatal. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics.
How Long Does Listeria Last?
Intestinal illness from non-invasive listeria generally starts within 24 hours of eating contaminated food and lasts one to three days. Symptoms may include diarrhea and vomiting but are usually mild unless it becomes invasive. Invasive listeria usually sets in within two weeks of the initial infection. Invasive listeria can take weeks to resolve.
How Can Restaurants, Workers and Businesses Prevent Listeria?
Listeria infections are often the result of poor food handling practices at restaurants. Restaurant workers can prevent the transmission of listeria by following basic food safety guidelines, such as those listed below:
- Hand hygiene. Listeria can pass from contaminated food and surfaces to the hands and to other foods. Workers should change gloves when switching foods and wash their hands every time they use the restroom, re-enter the kitchen after leaving, or handle potentially contaminated foods.
- Kitchen sanitation. Kitchen personnel should clean and sanitize all surfaces in the food preparation and storage areas, including countertops, dry storage areas, refrigerators, and equipment. This will prevent bacteria from growing and spreading.
- Food temperature management. Listeria thrives and multiplies at room temperature and in the refrigerator, making it all the more important to cook hot foods to the correct temperature, which ranges from 145 to 165° Fahrenheit for most foods.
- Fruit and Vegetable Cleanliness. Fruits and vegetables can harbor all forms of foodborne illnesses and should be washed thoroughly before serving.
- Reputable food vendors. Listeria can infest food at processing and packing plants or even at the farm before it reaches restaurants. Owners should choose safe suppliers, stay informed about food recalls and outbreaks, and test ready-to-eat foods. The FDA has a zero-tolerance policy towards listeria due to its high death rate.
- Dispose of expired food. Bacteria has more time to grow on expired food, and it should never be served. Melons have an especially high risk of growing listeria after being cut, even in the refrigerator. They should be disposed of if left out for more than two hours or unused after a week in the refrigerator.
How Can I Prevent Listeria?
Listeria prevention in a home kitchen is just as important as in a restaurant, especially if you are in a high-risk group.
Store Your Food at Safe Temperatures
Although listeria can grow and multiply in the refrigerator, you can slow its growth by keeping the thermostat at 40°F or lower. You can stop listeria from multiplying in frozen foods by setting the thermostat in your freezer to 0°F.
Avoid leaving food at temperatures above 40°F and below 140°F for more than two hours. This is known as the danger zone because it is the ideal temperature for foodborne pathogens to multiply.
Eat Prepared Foods Before They Expire
Listeria can grow in the refrigerator, so it’s crucial to eat store-bought prepared foods such as coleslaw and pasta salads as soon as possible after you bring them home. If they expire, you should avoid touching them and wash your hands thoroughly after you throw them away.
Keep Your Refrigerator Clean
If food spills in your refrigerator, wipe it up as soon as possible and clean the walls inside your refrigerator regularly using hot, soapy water. Be sure to dry them.
Cook Meat, Fish, and Poultry Thoroughly
Heat kills listeria, which means you can prevent it by cooking meat, fish, and poultry to their correct internal temperatures.
- Whole meats - 145°F and a three-minute resting period
- Fish - 145°F
- Ground meats - 160°F
- Poultry - 165°F
- Eggs - until the yolks and whites are firm.
The color of meat isn’t always a reliable indicator of doneness. The safest method is to use a thermometer.
Avoid High-Risk Foods
Listeria prevention is particularly important if you are pregnant, over 65, or have a weakened immune system. Listeria tends to be drawn to certain foods. If these foods can be heated, you can lower the risk. This includes foods like hot dogs, lunch meat, and smoked fish.
You should also avoid unpasteurized milk, butter, cheese, or milk that has been left out too long. This includes the following soft cheeses unless the label says they are made with pasteurized milk:
- Feta
- Brie
- Camembert
- Blue cheese
- Queso blanco or fresco
- Panela
Contact Us Today
If you or your loved one has been harmed by a listeria infection, our food safety attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
