Research has found about 20% of ice cream-making facilities in the US have listeria in them.
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found in many foods. Historically, it’s been linked to the consumption of raw and processed milks, vegetables and fruits. People have also gotten listeria infections from eating undercooked sausages, hot dogs, poultry, deli meats, smoked fish, and seafood.
One food you might not associate with the illness is the delicious summer treat, ice cream. It may something to think about when getting your next scoop, however.
Earlier this summer, the Florida ice cream brand Big Olaf Creamery was identified as being the source of a deadly listeria outbreak. This outbreak impacted ten states across the US. One person in Illinois is said to have died from the infection that led to sepsis in her body.
While many people survive listeriosis as a foodborne illness, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that a shocking 20 to 30% of people who contract it each year die from it. This number could be skewed as many cases may be mild enough to go unnoticed. Still, the facts may give you pause. Here’s some more to know about the illness.
Symptoms of a listeria infection
Listeriosis is caused by a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, which was named after the British surgeon Joseoh Lister. Lister famously discovered that when surgical instruments are sterilized before being used in an operation, the patient undergoing surgery has a reduced chance of developing an infection. (This is the same guy the mouthwash, Listerine, is named after, btw).
What should you look for if you think you may have eaten contaminated food?
According to the Mayo Clinic, most listeria infections may be so mild that you don’t even notice you’re sick. When the infection is more severe, it can cause:
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle aches
- Diarrhea
- Upset stomach
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If your listeria infection spreads to reach your nervous system, it can cause:
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Headache
- Convulsions
- Loss of balance
Symptoms of a listeria infection can wait and apear up to two months, or 70 days, after you’re actually infected. The bacteria grow in your liver after you’ve ingested them. They then move onto your bloodstream. Once this happens, the infection can spread around your body through your digestive tract as well as your brain and spinal cord.
A whopping 90% of people who develop a listeria infection end up the hospital and many of these end up in an intensive care unit.
As with other types of bacterial infections, people over the age of 65, pregnant women, and those living with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to suffering from a severe infection.
What to do and when to get help
If you fall sick after eating a food that’s been recalled, contact your doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you develop a high fever, stiff neck, a strong headache, a sensitivity to light or feelings of confusion, you should seek immediate help. You could be developing bacterial meningitis, which can be life threatening.
Furthermore, if you have any food in your home that has been recalled, always throw it away. You should also be sure to clean any utensils and surfaces that may have come in contact with this food.
According to Pew Research, the FDA found listeria in around 1 in 5 ice cream facilities in the US. This is thought to happen in par because employees don’t always wash their hands well. Sometimes there is also improper cleaning of utensils and other equipment and this may be contributing to these outbreaks, officials say. The good news is that, by implementing better oversight these outbreaks can actually be controlled and prevented in the future.
If you think you may be sick with listeria, contact your doctor and seek help to ensure your wellbeing.
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photo credits: Elena Veselova/Shutterstock.com
