According to the WHO, listeriosis is one of the most serious foodborne diseases.
According to the WHO, among the foods most frequently associated with listeriosis are those with long storage periods in the refrigerator.
Hundreds of prepared food products, sold primarily on the East Coast of the United States, have been recalled for possible listeria contamination, as announced by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
According to the statement, all food products that were sold by Fresh Ideation Food Group, and have a Fresh Creative Cuisine label and/or identifier at the bottom of the label With expiration dates between January 31 and February 6, 2023, they will be withdrawn due to the possible presence of Listeria in their content, according to the FDA.
Among the recalled products are prepared sandwiches, salads, appetizers, yogurts and wraps. The recall of the food products was initiated after an environmental sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
According to the FDA, no related disease has been reported so far. To see the complete list of recalled products, you can visit the official FDA statement here.
Who are the people most at risk of getting Listeria?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Listeria is the third leading cause of death, from foodborne illness or food poisoning, in the United States. An estimated 1,600 people become ill with a Listeria infection each year and approximately 260 die from the disease.
Listeria infection is more likely to make pregnant women and their newborns, adults age 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems sicker. Other people can get Listeria infection, but rarely get seriously ill.
Listeria symptoms
According to the CDC, listeriosis can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the person or body part affected. Listeria can cause fever and diarrhea in a similar way to other foodborne microbes, but this type of Listeria infection is rarely diagnosed. The symptoms in people with invasive listeriosis, that is, when the bacteria has spread beyond the intestines, depend on whether it is a pregnant woman or not.
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women usually only have a fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches. However, infection during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in the newborn.
- People other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures, along with fever and muscle aches.
People with invasive listeriosis usually report symptoms 1 to 4 weeks after eating Listeria-contaminated food; some people have reported symptoms up to 70 days after exposure, or as early as the day of exposure.
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