What advice is the government giving to consumers in relation to Listeriosis?
The government advises that consumers can reduce their risk of listeriosis
by:
- Using perishable items that are precooked or ready-to-eat as soon as possible
- Cleaning refrigerators regularly
- Using a refrigerator thermometer to ensure that temperatures remain at
40 F or lower
The FDA and USDA say that pregnant women, older people, and those with weakened
immune systems should take the following steps to avoid listeriosis:
- Do not eat hot dogs or luncheon meats unless they are reheated until steaming
hot.
- Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, brie or Camembert, blue-veined cheeses
or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco fresco. Hard cheeses, semi-soft
cheeses such as mozzarella, pasteurized processed cheeses, cream cheese, and
cottage cheese may be eaten.
- Do not eat refrigerated patés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable patés
and meat spreads may be eaten.
- Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is part of a cooked dish,
such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood--such as salmon, trout, whitefish,
cod, tuna or mackerel--most often is labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered,"
"smoked," or "jerky." The products are found in the refrigerator section or
sold at deli counters of grocery stores or delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable
smoked seafood may be eaten.
- Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or eat foods that contain raw milk.
Source: Excerpted from FDA Consumer - Highlights of FDA Food Safety Efforts: Fruit Juice, Mercury in Fish, March-April 2001
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