Is listeria killed by cooking?
Listeria may be killed by heat, but that does not mean that standards can be lowered when it comes to safety.
An outbreak of listeria in Virginia occurred after “Federal meat inspectors documented black mold, water dripping over meat and dead flies at a Virginia Boar’s Head deli meat plant” which has been linked to nine deaths from listeria over the course of a year, The New York Times wrote on August 31, with inspectors noting over 80 points of issue at the site from June 2023 through to August this year.
What is listeria?
According to the Food Safety Information Council, listeria is “a comparatively rare but potentially severe form of foodbourne illness caused by bacteria” which “can be very dangerous” for certain groups of people. When it comes to listeria, it can more commonly be found in raw foods, and can be killed by cooking. However, mishandling cooked foods can lead to recontamination by the bacterial illness.
Leftover foods should, according to the FSC, never be stored in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours as the bacteria can grow at cool temperatures. You can, however, freeze leftovers.
What to do if you have recalled Boar’s Head deli meats
An update provided by the CDC Wednesday reported 57 hospitalizations and 9 deaths linked to the ongoing listeria outbreak across 18 states. See map.
— David98 (@twittmypants) August 30, 2024
Source: USA TODAY @Boars_Head https://t.co/bhGuHAQ2xA
Can listeria be deadly?
The same outlet reports that listeria, while uncommon, can be severe for pregnant women, elderly people, transplant patients, people affected by chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and those who take immunosuppressants such as codeine.
What are the symptoms of listeria?
When it comes to listeria, the symptoms can include ‘flu-like’ bodily responses as well as diarrhoea and vomiting. They can appear any time from 3 days to 3 months after the infection.
On @9NEWS this #LaborDay Weekend, talking about a deadly listeria outbreak linked to a Boar's Head facility and this year's mosquito-borne illnesses. Tune in to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones!
— Dr. Payal Kohli, MD (@payalkohlimd) August 31, 2024
Full Story: https://t.co/VyXgaXsgkd pic.twitter.com/JVqTDU3Ouo
Two unfortunate victims fell ill last month and genome sequencing matched the patients’ bacteria to Boar’s Head liverwurst, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The immediate recall of 3,500 tons of meat, spanning 50 types, was issued as inspectors moved in to check out the property.
A spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department said that the facility was closed down until it “is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product.”
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