Blue Bell has recalled more than two dozen different ice cream products and the Sabra Dipping Co. has recalled its Classic Hummus because they were found to be contaminated with Listeria bacteria. The ice cream products have been linked to eight people who became sick, with three deaths. The hummus has not been linked to any known cases.
Listeria is a potentially deadly bacteria. It is found in soil and water and can be carried by animals. Unfortunately, it is a bacteria that is hard to kill. Unlike most bacteria, it can grow in cold temperatures, which means that it can grow in refrigerated foods that have been contaminated. It can be found in unpasteurized dairy products such as unpasteurized milk or cheese. Listeria can be spread in a food processing plant, but it has also been found on the outer rinds of fruits and vegetables. An outbreak in 2011 was due to contamination on cantaloupe melons.
The disease caused by Listeria is called listeriosis, which can kill in as many as 20% of all cases. Most deaths occur in the elderly or in people with compromised immune systems. However, listeriosis can be fatal in pregnant women. It can also cause miscarriages, premature births, and can make newborns seriously ill. Most healthy children or young adults who become infected do not have any problems.
The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting or nausea.
Unfortunately, the only way to prevent getting infected with Listeria is to throw away any food product that has been recalled. If you have purchased a manufactured food product that has been recalled, throw the product away immediately. Even if you have eaten some and have not gotten sick, throw the rest of it away.
Cooking kills Listeria. Make sure that hot foods have been heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
If you are immune compromised or are pregnant, do not eat unpasteurized dairy products. You should also wash all fruits and vegetables before cutting or eating them raw.
