food-safety tips about Listeria

With recent fatalities, the Listeria outbreak that was linked to tainted cantaloupe still raises public concern. Understanding what Listeria is and recognizing the symptoms can help us become aware of what to look for.
Dr. David Golden, professor of food microbiology, explains how the public can take precautions against the deadly bacteria. "More specifically, the organism that caused this outbreak is Listeria monocytogenes," said Golden.
This is a pathogenic organism that is commonly found in animal intestines and throughout the environment, and causes illness in humans when consumed. The question has been raised on how an organism can make its way to host on fruit when it resides in unpasteurized milk and the inside of animal intestines.
Golden explains possible ways on how Listeria may have been transported. "It is not uncommon to find it [the organism] in the soil," said Golden. "If irrigation water is not properly treated, the spray can distribute those organisms."
In this case, another way of transport is from the harvesting of cantaloupes from the fields where the contaminants are packed in shipments, Golden explains.  If there is contamination in transfer, it can cross-contaminate whatever it touches.
Golden says direct contact with soil and other surfaces begins the contamination process. Basic precautions while cleaning produce, he says, can alleviate much of the potential risk of infection.
The organism can harbor in the fibrous rind of the cantaloupe although the rind is thick. The knife's blade can transport bacteria through the juice of the fruit. Not only is the knife a culprit, but using the same cutting board without washing is just as risky in spreading the deadly bacteria.
Golden says the range of immediate effects depends on the number of deadly organisms that are present on the cantaloupe. In some cases, Listeria takes time to show up in the human body.
Symptoms include diarrhea and, in severe cases, meningitis, which can result in death for a mother and her unborn baby. A high mortality rate to those who are infected is 20 to 30 percent.
Golden explains that food-borne illnesses are more common than what is known to the public. He says that often times, the only way we usually hear about an outbreak is when someone dies from its ill effects. A publicized outbreak such as this one heightens public awareness of the disease and is what makes this case so different; the high number in deaths from food poisoning.
On a positive note, Golden illustrates simple precautions that we can take to lessen the potential risk of infection. Washing the cantaloupe under running tap water dislodges organisms from the rind. Also dry with paper towels to prevent contaminants from lingering on dish towels.
"Rinse it, blot it and cut it," says Golden, referring to the steps of cleaning the cantaloupe. He also suggests avoiding the use of the same cutting board when cutting off the rind, or simply wash the cutting board before going to the next step after removing the rind.

But instead of adding extra effort to clean the cantaloupe, it may seem easier to eliminate the produce from our diet altogether.  However, this should not be the case.
"We should not avoid cantaloupe, but it's important to know where our food comes from," Golden says. "The risk of not eating healthy fruits and vegetables will far outweigh the risk of getting ill from eating produce with tainted organisms."

"The FDA will issue warnings when there is a potential outbreak," Golden explains referring to a Colorado farm's packing facility. "Tracking and tracing back to the one farm was identified early."
Since the farm was identified early, the cantaloupe was recalled quickly. "We may continue to see ill effects of the contamination maybe even up through Christmas because of the slow onset that may occur," said Golden.
The extent of sickness depends on a person's preexisting health condition if and when he or she comes in contact with the organisms.