Listeriosis outbreak
Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes) is a bacterium commonly found in soil and water, and in domestic animals. It can be responsible for a relatively uncommon but serious food-borne illness called listeriosis or listeria infection. Listeriosis is caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria. Types of food commonly contaminated by listeria include dairy products, fish, meat, and vegetables. Contamination can occur at any point in the farming, distribution, and food preparation process.
Listeria is different from other bacteria that cause food poisoning because it can survive and continue to grow even when in the refrigerator. Foods contaminated with listeria look, smell, and taste normal. Not everyone who is infected with listeria will develop listeriosis. For those who do, however, symptoms may develop suddenly as soon as 1 day after and up to 90 days after eating food contaminated with listeria. (source)
Fortunately, listeria can be killed by proper cooking methods. However, even thoroughly cooking food does not guarantee that it is safe to eat if proper food-handling techniques were not used. For example, if the cooked food becomes cross-contaminated by infected, raw food, it is no longer safe to eat.
While otherwise healthy people do not generally become ill from a listeria inflection, pregnant women, newborns, seniors and people with a weak immune system may become seriously ill. Pregnant women in particular are about 20 times more likely to acquire the disease than other healthy adults.
Listeria infection can often be controlled with antibiotics. Prevention, however, is the best method to avoid illness. Always taking simple food-safety precautions can drastically reduce your chances of contracting most food-borne illnesses.
For more information
Regarding the current outbreak of listeriosis connected to the Maple Leaf Foods recall, more information is available from the following sources:
- Maple Leaf Foods consumer affairs infoline 1-800-568-5801 and website
- List of recalled products
- Listeria investigation: Ready-to-eat meat products (Questions and answers for consumers)
- How the Canadian food safety system works: Food recalls
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada estimate that every year between 11 and 13 million Canadians suffer from illnesses caused by foodborne bacteria. (source)
Donna MacLeod for Consumer Health Information Service, Toronto Public Library
Further reading
For more information about listeriosis:
- Mayo clinic Listeriosis
- Health Canada What is listeria
- Public Health Agency of Canada Listeriosis (Listeria) outbreak
For more information about food safety:
- Health Canada Listeria and food safety
- Health Canada Reminds Canadians of Steps They Can Take to Protect Themselves from Salmonella
- Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education Food safety factsheets
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency Food safety facts on Listeria and Food safety games for kids
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