Listeria: Concerns, Symptoms, and Recalls

Posted: 03/11/2024

There are many bacteria to be concerned about with food, and one of them is Listeria. Listeria moncytogenes is a bacteria that “can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation measures” (1). It is linked with a wide variety of commonly consumed items: soft cheese and raw milk products, raw and processed produce, improperly processed ice cream, preserved foods like hot dogs and smoked fish, deli meat, and even shellfish.

Outbreaks and recalls due to Listeria have been all too common this year; here is just a sample of the most recent recalls from the past few months in 2024:

Breakfast Burritos in Washington (2)
Cheese products from Castle Importing in California (3)
10,000 cases of shredded cheese from Sargento out of Wisconsin (4)
Street Corn in California (5)
Raw milk from Sigmon Dairy out of Washington (6)

High-risk populations and pregnant people run the greatest risk of severe symptoms, complications, and death. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, and headaches; more severe symptoms can also include confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, and death.

How do we combat this, beyond paying attention to recalls? Cleaning and sanitizing, as well as proper personal hygiene are at the top of the list. Making sure we take time to properly clean food storage areas like coolers/freezers (Listeria can survive at lower temperatures), and being aware of cross-contamination when dealing with pet food and waste area also important in combatting Listeria contamination. If you are concerned about possible Listeria contamination in your food service operation, contact and work with your Health Department!