Before we even have a chance to figure out what caused the salmonella breach a new food safety threat surfaces. This time it's deli meat and listeria bacteria. To be honest, this one concerns me more than the salmonella. Why - because the nature of the bacteria and the fact that it found a home on food that is not designed to be cooked prior to consumption, i.e. deli meat, salads, soft cheese.
This week USDA issued a Class 1 recall which means it is a "health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death." Know that there have been no reports of illness by those who ate the deli meat. Healthy people rarely contract listeria. It is the immune compromised folks that have to take precautions. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea.
Those at risk (HIV, pregnant women, persons undergoing chemotherapy) should:
- avoid hot dogs, luncheon meats, bologna unless it is cooked just prior to eating
- ready-to-eat meat spreads
- smoked seafood
- store-made salads such as chicken, tuna, egg or seafood.
- soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk
- keep refrigerator temperature at 40 degrees
Food safety is an issue that is only going to get more attention in the coming years as we depend on a global economy for our food. The best advice is to be aware of appropriate food preparation techniques, practice good hygiene and take care of ready-to-eat food quickly. Simply put be clean and careful when dealing with food.
Happy, Healthy Eating,
Marcia
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