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Listeria

[li-steer-ee-uh]

Cold cuts on cutting board

Listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria, is an important public health problem in the United States. Older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at-risk for listeriosis. Although rare, Listeria can affect persons not generally considered at-risk. Reduce your risk by safely preparing, eating and storing food.

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Key Facts

  • Listeria targets pregnant women and their babies, people with weakened immune systems, and those 65 years or older.
  • A person with listeriosis may have diarrhea, other intestinal upset, fever, and muscle aches.
  • Listeriosis is an 'invasive' infection. The bacteria spreads beyond the intestines.
  • Listeria can pass from a pregnant woman to her fetus or newborn.
  • Listeria can cause miscarriage and stillbirth; in a newborn, it can cause bloodstream infection, meningitis, or death.

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Prevention Tips

  • Wash hands, knives, countertops, and cutting boards after handling and preparing uncooked foods.
  • Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources—such as beef, pork, or poultry—to a safe internal temperature.
  • Rinse peeled and unpeeled raw produce—such as fruits and vegetables—thoroughly under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
  • Clean up all spills in your refrigerator right away–especially juices from hot dog and lunch meat packages, raw meat, and raw poultry.
  • Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk, and do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk in them.
  • Page last reviewed: March 3, 2016
  • Page last updated: March 3, 2016
  • Content source:
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