To reduce your risk of infection with L. monocytogenes, the CDC has the following advice:
- Eat perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.
- Rinse raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
- Do not drink unpasteurized milk.
- Heat ready-to-eat foods and leftovers until they are steaming hot.
- Those at risk for infection should not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts or other deli meats unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165°F, or until steaming hot, before serving.
Pass it on: An outbreak of listeriosis linked to contaminated cantaloupes is the deadliest outbreak of foodborne illness in a decade.
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4 Comments
Add CommentI heard that the listeria bacterium is on the outside of the melon and enters the fruit when one cuts through the skin. Is this correct?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is also possible to infect someone with a radio controlled poison. After the entire human race is infected, turn the radio on and extinction happens. ...in theory. A cme would be a good radio transmitter. This is my 2012 event idea.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is why food safety experts advise washing any raw fruits or vegetables thoroughly, with potable water, then make sure food preparation is done on clean kitchen counters, clean cutting board and knife, with clean hands before cutting/dicing/slicing for consumption.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI don't know that I've heard of listeria before. I haven't seen mention of where it came from and how it got on the cantaloupes. Why there/then and not everywhere/everywhen?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm not very cautious about what I eat, but I don't know that I've ever gotten a food-born illness (except maybe for the effects of sugar and fat. I feel a strong immune system resulting from early farm life helped.