Listeria...cantaloupes...what?

By now, you may have read or heard the reports of Listeria illness caused by tainted cantaloupes. We don't usually hear of too many Listeria outbreaks, we more commonly hear about salmonella or E. coli outbreaks. Here is more information to help keep you safe from Listeria.

Adults over the age of 65 and women who are pregnant are most at risk for Listeria. It can be very dangerous for those groups. Healthy individuals may eat contaminated food and never show any symptoms. Symptoms can include muscle aches, fatigue, fever, stiff neck, confusion, or diarrhea and other intestinal problems. Symptoms may not show up for up to 2 months in some individuals, so it can be hard to trace the source.

Listeria is found in nature and can be present in raw foods as well as cooked or processed foods that were contaminated with the bacteria. Storing foods in the refrigerator does not prevent growth of the bacteria, it can still grow slowly. Listeria is killed by cooking, but can grow and multiply in the fridge.

High risk foods that can cause Listeria include: cold packaged meat (like lunch meat and hot dogs), cold cooked chicken (ready-to-eat), pre-prepared salads, some ready-to-eat and raw seafood, soft cheeses, and unpastuerized dairy products. Most individuals can eat these foods without problems, unless you suspect unsafe food handling. Older adults and pregnant women should limit or avoid those types of foods. Fresh produce is usually a less likely cause of Listeria, but it is found in the soil and water.

It is not known what the exact cause of the Listeria from cantaloupes in this current outbreak, but it is possible that the equipment from the grower was contaminated.

For more information about the recall, you can go to the CDC website.

To prevent Listeria and other food-borne illness, remember the four rules of food safety: clean, chill, cook, and separate. For more information on food safety, check out these articles on missourifamilies.org:

• Be Food Safe

• Holiday Food Safety

I don't usually put personal messages on here, but I have to put one today: Go Cardinals! Hopefully our St. Louis crowd (the best fans in baseball) can help bring home a winner tonight.