Listeria infections: how to prevent listeriosis

Listeria are bacteria that can cause infection. In this article we explain how you can prevent listeriosis.

Listeriosis: This is a listeria infection

You consume food every day. You may not have known that these foods can transmit bacteria that make you sick.

• Listeria are bacteria that are very resistant and can be found almost everywhere.
• They survive the refrigerator, freezer and low-oxygen environment, such as vacuum packaging.
• You can only kill the bacteria with high heat. This is the case from approx. 70 degrees.
• Animal products are most likely to be contaminated with listeria. Raw meat, raw fish and raw milk products can be particularly affected.
• However, these bacteria can also occur in vegetable products and products that have already been heated, such as boiled sausage.
• Listeriosis can have the following symptoms : vomiting, nausea, gastrointestinal complaints, fever and body aches
• With mild listeriosis, these usually decrease on their own after a few days, but are nevertheless not desirable.
• If symptoms of infection persist, you should definitely see a doctor.

This is how you can prevent listeriosis

Listeriosis causes flu-like symptoms and is not pleasant. In people with a weak immune system, the infection can even become very dangerous. Therefore, avoid catching these bacteria by preventing them.

• Listeriosis can cause meningitis or blood poisoning in people with a weak immune system.
• Babies, small children, the elderly, the chronically ill and people who have recently undergone surgery should therefore not get listeriosis.
• You should also be particularly careful during pregnancy, as listeriosis can be fatal to the unborn child.
• The best way to prevent infection is to avoid raw animal products.
• You should also exercise caution with salads that have already been prepared, as these can also be carriers.
• Listeria can also multiply in your refrigerator if you have not properly packaged food or stored it well. Therefore, pay attention to hygiene in the household.
• Always roast, cook and bake everything properly.
• Always wash your hands and work surfaces well after contact with raw meat. Also wash off the meat before cooking.
• Always use your own cutting board and knife for raw meat, which you then do not use for other foods in the same cooking cycle.
• The risk of a Listeria infection cannot be completely ruled out, because you only have a limited influence on what has already happened to the food before. Nevertheless, you can prevent listeriosis under certain circumstances.

In the next article, you will read how to properly store food in the refrigerator.