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Listeria: Attorneys Provide Prevention Information 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that there are 2500 incidents of Listeriosis each year and 500 Listeriosis deaths. The incidents of Listeriosis are from food contaminated with the Listeria bacteria. 

Families can take measures to prevent Listeria in the home.  Pritzker | Olsen, P.A., a nationally-recognized law firm focusing its practice on Listeria and other foodborne illnesses, has provided the following information on Listeria prevention for your family.

Prevention of Listeria Food Poisoning in Your Family

Eradication of Listeria is impossible because it is common and naturally occurring in so many environments, including soil, water, animal intestines, and plants. Because we will never be able to make Listeria go away, the key to keeping your family safe is taking steps to prevent Listeria contamination and infection. Simple methods such as cooking and washing food are the easiest and most effective ways to prevent infections in your family. The following is a simple list of measures that can be taken at home to prevent Listeria infection:

  • Cook all meat thoroughly
  • Keep your kitchen clean of harmful bacteria
  • Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider
  • Avoid soft cheeses
  • Reheat ready-to-eat meat until steaming
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
  • Be aware of the water you drink
  • Wash hands with soap.

Additional Information on Measures for Listeria Prevention
Although certain groups of people are at higher risk of infection than are others, most people are naturally resistant and at low risk of getting Listeriosis. Nevertheless, everybody can reduce the risk of Listeria food poisoning in their families with these simple steps:

  • Do not drink raw or unpasteurized milk and juices. Beverages that have not undergone some form of bacteria prevention may contain naturally-occurring Listeria.
  • When buying, preparing, cooking and storing foods, keep raw and cooked foods separate. Bacteria in juices from raw meat, poultry or fish can contaminate ready-to-eat foods. For instance, transfer cooked meat, poultry or fish to a clean platter -- never to the dish that held the raw food.
  • Always wash hands, knives, and cutting boards with soap and hot water after handling uncooked foods.
  • In restaurants, send meat that has not been thoroughly cooked back to the kitchen for proper cooking. Be sure to ask for a new plate as well.
  • Be sure to wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
  • Thoroughly cook all food of animal origin, including eggs. Cook raw meat to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, raw poultry to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and raw fish to 160 degrees Fahrenheit or until it is white and flaky. Reheat leftovers thoroughly.
  • Keep hot foods hot (above 140° Fahrenheit). Do not keep them out for longer than two hours at room temperature -- where Listeria monocytogenes can thrive -- before eating.
  • Refrigerate or freeze perishables, including ready-to-eat foods and leftovers, within 2 hours of buying or preparing them.

Preventing Listeria Food Poisoning in Children, Pregnant Women, the Elderly and People with Compromised Immune Systems
Some people, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who have compromised immune systems are much more susceptible to Listeria food poisoning than the general population. Individuals in these groups and their families should take the following steps to help prevent Listeria infections:

  • Always reheat until steaming ready-to-eat meat, including hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented or dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry.
  • Avoid cross-contamination of ready-to-eat foods with other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces and always wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
  • Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue cheeses, and Mexican-style cheeses such as "queso fresco." These cheeses have not been pasteurized and are at risk of Listeria contamination. Hard cheeses, semi-soft cheeses like mozzarella and muenster, pasteurized processed cheese slices and spreads, cream cheese, and cottage cheese do not run the risk of contamination.
  • Also avoid refrigerated pâtés and meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads that have been processed to prevent bacterial contamination may be eaten.
  • Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it has been thoroughly reheated or re-cooked. Raw fish foods, such as sushi and sashimi should also be avoided. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.

Listeria: Attorneys and Free Consultation

Listeria AttorneyIf you or a family member has been hospitalized due to Listeria, attorneys at Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. are available for a free consultation. To contact an attorney, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail info@pritzkerlaw.com, or fill in our online consultation form. Our senior partner, Fred Pritzker, is currently lead attorney in a Listeria lawsuit involving victims from several states, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His national reputation has led to his selection for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. To learn more about Fred Pritzker, please see Food Poisoning: Lawyer and Attorney.


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