Listeria Outbreak That Lasted for 10 Years Is Over
Good news, everyone! The Listeria outbreak we’ve been dealing with for over a decade has finally ended. This outbreak was severe and has been linked to two unfortunate deaths.
Experts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked hard to find out its cause and how to stop it. They found out that the outbreak started way back in June 2014 and went all the way until December 2023. There were 26 people in 11 states who got sick from this outbreak. It was so severe that 23 of them had to stay in the hospital. Sadly, there was also a case where someone lost their pregnancy, and two newborn babies got sick with Listeria.
When they talked to the 22 affected people, 73% said they had eaten certain types of cheese – like queso fresco and cotija. The investigators connected the dots and discovered that these cheeses from Rizo-López Foods were the cause of the problem. They had to recall batches of foods, including cheeses, crema, and yogurts. But don’t worry, all these foods are past their best-by dates, which means they shouldn’t be in stores or your fridge anymore.
The CDC said there might have been more people who got sick but didn’t go to the hospital. Plus, any new cases might take a few weeks to be reported, which means we always have to be patient to see the whole picture.
Experts have a cool tool called the PulseNet system. It’s like a giant detective network that helps them match up DNA fingerprints of bad bacteria, like the ones that cause food poisoning. They checked out the DNA of the Listeria from this outbreak and found it all matched up – meaning everyone got sick from the same food.
Just this January, the health folks in Hawaii found the Listeria bug in a cheese product made by Rizo-López Foods. The FDA then visited the location and found the same type of bacteria.
From The Club:
Over the past weeks, there have been a lot of food recalls from different types of products – from cheeses to cinnamon. These recalls were part of the effort to contain bacteria that cause food-related illnesses. Key takeaways we got are – always be wary of food products you buy, check their best-by dates, and always wash your food before cooking, especially for fresh produce. Another important thing is to always be in the loop for food safety news and immediately consult a doctor if you or a family member feels sick.
Why You Should Watch Out for Listeria
You might not be able to tell if food has Listeria just by looking at it or smelling it. But it’s a big deal because it can make you feel sick or even be dangerous. If you’ve had any food that’s been recalled and you start to feel icky with things like throwing up, feeling nauseous, having a fever, aching muscles, a bad headache, or a stiff neck, go see a doctor, okay? And tell them you might have been around Listeria. It’s important for certain people, like pregnant ladies, older folks, little kids, and anyone with a weaker immune system, to be careful because they can get very sick.
Remember, if you’ve eaten something that might have had Listeria in it, keep an eye on how you feel for the next few weeks. It can take a while for the sickness to show up.
Stay safe and healthy!