Germs, Listeria

Listeria is widely present in the environment. It is found in soil, vegetation, raw milk, meat, poultry, cheeses and salad vegetables. It is also found in the guts of animals and humans. One type, Listeria monocytogenes, can cause illness in humans.

Listeria monocytogenes, unlike most other food poisoning bacteria, can grow at low temperatures, even in the fridge. Thorough cooking of food and pasteurisation of milk will destroy Listeria.

It can take days or weeks for symptoms to develop. Symptoms can range from mild flu like illness to meningitis and septicaemia. Other susceptible groups are those whose immune systems are compromised, the very young and the very old. People in these groups are advised to avoid certain foods, such as soft mould ripened cheeses.

Cook All Food Properly

Germs Campylobacter Salmonella E.coli Clostridium Listeria Staphylococcus Bacillus Cereus Giardiasis Botulism Calicivirus Cholera Probiotics