Frederic Melton
Listeriosis, a foodborne bacterial illness, can be very serious for pregnant women, people over 65, and those with weak immune systems. It is most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products. Soft cheeses such as feta, brie, Camembert, and blue cheese are known to be at risk of listeria contamination. While melting blue cheese may reduce the risk of infection, it is not guaranteed to kill all listeria bacteria. The acidic levels and moisture in blue cheese can support the growth of listeria. Therefore, it is important to take precautions when consuming blue cheese, especially for those who are pregnant or immunocompromised.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Listeria infection | A foodborne bacterial illness |
| Foods that may contain listeria | Soft cheeses, hot dogs, deli meats, raw vegetables, meat spreads, smoked seafood |
| Foods to avoid with listeria | Blue cheese unless made with pasteurized milk, hot dogs unless reheated until steaming hot, deli meats unless reheated until steaming hot, meat spreads unless canned or shelf-stable, smoked seafood |
| Risk groups | Pregnant women, people over 65, people with weak immune systems, unborn babies |
| Blue cheese contamination | Overall percentage of blue cheeses contaminated with L. monocytogenes in the UK is low |
| Blue cheese and listeria growth | Acidic and moisture levels in blue cheese can support L. monocytogenes growth |
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What You'll Learn
- Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be serious for pregnant women, people over 65, and those with weak immune systems
- Listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water, and animal faeces and can survive refrigeration and freezing
- Soft cheeses like blue cheese can contain listeria, but pasteurised milk products are safer
- Listeriosis illnesses due to blue cheese are rare in the UK, with low levels of contamination found in studies
- Gorgonzola cheese rind has a higher chance of listeria contamination than the centre of the cheese
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be serious for pregnant women, people over 65, and those with weak immune systems
Listeria, or Listeriosis, is a foodborne bacterial illness that is generally transmitted when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packed, transported, or stored in unsanitary conditions. It is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a type of disease-causing bacteria that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals.
Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, people over 65, and those with weak immune systems. While healthy individuals rarely become seriously ill from listeria, the infection can be fatal for unborn babies, newborns, and immunocompromised individuals. During pregnancy, a listeria infection may cause only mild symptoms in the mother, but it can have devastating consequences for the baby, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection.
Those with weakened immune systems, such as transplant patients or individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune diseases, are at a higher risk of serious health complications from listeria. The infection can spread to the nervous system, causing symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, and sensitivity to light, which may indicate bacterial meningitis.
To prevent listeria infection, high-risk individuals should avoid certain high-risk foods, such as unpasteurized milk and milk products, soft cheeses, raw or smoked fish, raw sprouts, and raw or undercooked meat and poultry. Additionally, it is important to practice good hygiene and sanitation when handling and preparing food, including washing hands and surfaces thoroughly and keeping the refrigerator clean.
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Listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water, and animal faeces and can survive refrigeration and freezing
Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a type of disease-causing bacteria that can be found in many places, including soil, water, animal faeces, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals themselves. It is transmitted to humans when food is harvested, processed, prepared, packaged, transported, or stored in environments contaminated with L. monocytogenes. This can include raw materials, water, soil, and incoming air.
L. monocytogenes can survive and grow under refrigeration, and freezing will not eliminate or reduce the pathogen. The longer ready-to-eat refrigerated foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes are stored in the refrigerator, the more opportunities there are for this pathogen to grow. To slow down or prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes, keep the refrigerator at 40° F (4° C) or below, and the freezer at 0° F (-18° C). Wipe up spills in the refrigerator immediately and clean it regularly. Wash and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with contaminated foods.
People can become infected with listeria by consuming raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure used as fertilizer. Certain processed foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, and deli meats can also be contaminated after processing. Unborn babies can contract a listeria infection from their mother, and it can be fatal to them and newborns.
Pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of contracting a listeria infection. These high-risk groups should avoid eating foods most likely to contain listeria bacteria, such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, deli meats, and refrigerated meat spreads.
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Soft cheeses like blue cheese can contain listeria, but pasteurised milk products are safer
Soft cheeses, such as blue cheese, feta, brie, Camembert, and Mexican-style cheeses like queso blanco and queso fresco, can be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a severe and potentially fatal illness. This contamination typically occurs when the cheese is made with raw (unpasteurized) milk, which may be contaminated with Listeria and other harmful bacteria, such as Campylobacter, E. coli, and Salmonella.
Listeria is a significant concern for pregnant women, their unborn children, newborns, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems, as it can lead to severe health complications and even death in these vulnerable populations. To minimize the risk of infection, it is recommended that individuals, especially those in vulnerable groups, opt for pasteurized milk and dairy products. Pasteurization kills Listeria monocytogenes, making these products safer to consume.
However, it is important to note that even cheese made from pasteurized milk can become contaminated with Listeria due to inadequate hygiene practices after pasteurization. According to a US retail survey from 2000 to 2001, 0.5% of cheeses made from pasteurized milk were found to contain Listeria. Therefore, it is crucial to practice safe food handling and storage procedures to prevent contamination.
To further reduce the risk of Listeria infection, individuals can take additional precautions when consuming soft cheeses. It is recommended to only consume soft cheeses if they are clearly labeled as made with pasteurized milk. Additionally, heating soft cheeses, such as queso fresco, to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or steaming hot can effectively kill Listeria and other harmful bacteria. This can be achieved by cooking or melting the cheese thoroughly before consumption.
In summary, while soft cheeses like blue cheese can contain Listeria, choosing pasteurized milk products significantly reduces the risk of contamination. Proper heating and cooking methods can further ensure the safety of these foods. Individuals, especially those in vulnerable groups, should follow food safety guidelines and stay informed about food recalls to minimize the risk of Listeria infection and its potentially severe health consequences.
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Listeriosis illnesses due to blue cheese are rare in the UK, with low levels of contamination found in studies
Listeriosis, or a Listeria infection, is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for vulnerable people. These vulnerable groups include pregnant women, people over 65, infants, and those with a weakened immune system. While most semi-soft cheeses do not allow the bacteria to grow, blue cheeses may be an exception and can pose a risk to these vulnerable groups.
Blue cheese is defined as cheese that is internally ripened with Penicillium mould. Listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water, and animal faeces, and can contaminate raw vegetables and certain processed foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, and deli meats. It is worth noting that healthy individuals rarely become ill from listeriosis, and the illness is relatively rare compared to other foodborne diseases.
In the UK, no listeriosis illnesses due to blue cheese have been identified. Published data from Scottish local authorities and the Food Standards Agency suggest that the overall percentage of blue cheeses contaminated with Listeria in the UK is low. Studies have shown that the rinds of Gorgonzola were much more likely to be contaminated than the centre of the cheese.
While listeriosis illnesses due to blue cheese are rare in the UK, with low levels of contamination found in studies, it is important to exercise caution if you belong to one of the vulnerable groups. If you are pregnant, over 65, or have a weakened immune system, it is recommended to avoid blue cheese and other foods that may be contaminated with Listeria, such as unpasteurized milk products and improperly processed deli meats.
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Gorgonzola cheese rind has a higher chance of listeria contamination than the centre of the cheese
Blue cheeses, such as Gorgonzola, are frequently contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The rind of Gorgonzola cheese, in particular, represents a suitable substrate for the growth of Listeria. This is due to the biochemical changes that occur during the ripening process, which cause an increase in pH, influencing the evolution of the microflora and favouring possible contamination by food-borne pathogens.
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious for pregnant women, people older than 65, and those with weakened immune systems. It is commonly caused by eating improperly processed foods, such as deli meats and unpasteurized milk products. While healthy individuals rarely become ill from Listeria infection, it can be fatal to unborn babies, newborns, and those with weakened immune systems.
The pasteurization of milk inactivates the Listeria pathogen. However, contamination can still occur after pasteurization, as the cheese comes into contact with the environment during the ripening and storage processes. The cutting procedure has been identified as a critical point for the transfer of Listeria to the cheese. The percentage of paste contamination depends on the level of rind contamination, and the pathogen can continue to grow during storage, even at refrigeration temperatures.
To address the risk of Listeria contamination, studies have proposed the use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to limit the growth of the pathogen on the surface of Gorgonzola cheese during the ripening process. In vitro testing has shown that a combination of lactic acid and sodium lactate can effectively inhibit the growth of Listeria on Gorgonzola rinds, maintaining pathogen content below the legal limit for 60 days.
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Frequently asked questions
Melting blue cheese can kill listeria, but it is not guaranteed. Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, so melting blue cheese may not be sufficient to kill the bacteria. People who are at high risk of serious infections, such as those with a weak immune system, should avoid blue cheese unless it is made with pasteurized milk.
Listeria is a foodborne bacterial illness that can be very serious, and even fatal, for pregnant women, people older than 65, and those with weakened immune systems. It is most commonly caused by eating improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products.
Symptoms of listeria may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after eating a potentially contaminated product, such as blue cheese, it is recommended to contact your doctor.
