Food security is a subject of importance globally. However, despite having access to food, the issue of food safety can’t be ignored, and this is our interest as Afya Food Safety and Sanitation Company. As we all agree, knowledge is power and in today’s blog, we highlight Listeria contamination and Food Safety. We will know what it is, and touch on recent food recalls. In current news, there have been more and more cases of food recalls due to Listeria contamination, which is a concern, but can be prevented. So let us delve in!
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacteria causing a food-borne illness. It’s rare but serious, especially for pregnant women and babies It’s more serious for people of certain groups including seniors who are over 65 years old and those with weak immune systems. Studies show that about 1600 people contract Listeria yearly, and about 260 individuals lose their lives, making Listeria infection the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the USA. However, since the symptoms are similar to other ailments, most Listeria cases are never documented because infected individuals do not seek medical attention. Most people contract Listeria from contaminated food, such as soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, and cold deli meats.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have recalled several Listeria-contaminated products from the market. Examples of recalls that were issued on:
– Boars Head Provisions Co. recall deli meat products in 2024
– Al-Safa US LLC recalled imported frozen ready-to-eat chicken products in 2024
– Behrmann Meat and Processing Inc. recalled ready-to-eat meats in 2022
– Dole packaged salads recalled in 2022
It is important to note that some of these recalls are limited to specific areas of the country, while others are broad and cover several states. We will highlight more of these recalls in subsequent blogs.
Listeria and Food Safety
Introduction
Food security is a subject of importance globally. However, despite having access to food, the issue of food safety can’t be ignored, and this is our interest as Afya Food Safety and Sanitation Company. As we all agree, knowledge is power and in today’s blog, we highlight Listeria contamination and Food Safety. We will know what it is, and touch on recent food recalls. In current news, there have been more and more cases of food recalls due to Listeria contamination, which is a concern, but can be prevented. So let us delve in!
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacteria causing a food-borne illness. It’s rare but serious, especially for pregnant women and babies It’s more serious for people of certain groups including seniors who are over 65 years old and those with weak immune systems. Studies show that about 1600 people contract Listeria yearly, and about 260 individuals lose their lives, making Listeria infection the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the USA. However, since the symptoms are similar to other ailments, most Listeria cases are never documented because infected individuals do not seek medical attention. Most people contract Listeria from contaminated food, such as soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, and cold deli meats.
Listeria Contamination Food Recalls – FDA, USDA, CDC
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have recalled several Listeria-contaminated products from the market. Examples of recalls that were issued on:
– Boars Head Provisions Co. recall deli meat products in 2024
– Al-Safa US LLC recalled imported frozen ready-to-eat chicken products in 2024
– Behrmann Meat and Processing Inc. recalled ready-to-eat meats in 2022
– Dole packaged salads recalled in 2022
It is important to note that some of these recalls are limited to specific areas of the country, while others are broad and cover several states. We will highlight more of these recalls in subsequent blogs.
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