After this summer’s listeria outbreak educators warn to stay mindful of food handling
Oct 24, 2024, 8:00 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Listeria is just one of the food-illness concerns across the US right now and there have been cases confirmed in 19 states. While there haven’t been any cases in Utah, a local consumer educator says listeria is a very common pathogen we should all be mindful of.
The recent listeria outbreak has left 10 people dead and over 50 people hospitalized in some eastern and midwestern states. Health officials traced the outbreak back to meats and cheeses from a Boar’s Head facility.
Listeria can cause major GI tract upset, along with fever, headache and even delirium.
Teresa Hunsaker is a local consumer sciences educator and said listeria develops very easily.
“The pathogen itself is pretty common, and so it has to do with our handling of that meat.”
Hunsaker said we need to be mindful of how we handle deli-type products. She said consumers need to take an active role in preventing listeria in their foods.
“It is important to keep it refrigerated. It is important not to have my sandwiches out on a buffet table for a gathering of family members for a long period of time. In fact, an hour to two hours at the very most.”
Boar’s Head has stopped production of the affected products and issued a recall including all the items produced at their facility in Jarratt, Virginia.
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