Listeriosis Outbreak Prompts Action--Finally

Widespread Listeriosis Outbreak Attributable to Pasteurized Cheese, Which Led to Extensive Cross-Contamination Affecting Cheese Retailers, Quebec, Canada, 2008

“…The percentage of pregnant women affected by LM P93 was higher than observed by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (36). Two previous major L. monocytogenes outbreaks involving a significant percentage (over 30%) of pregnant women have been reported in the past: one was associated with the consumption of a Mexican cheese produced from inadequately pasteurized milk (20), and the other was associated with the consumption of rillettes in France (14).…”

Consumption of Raw or Unpasteurized Milk and Milk Products by Pregnant Women and Children

“…24 Between 17% and 33% of all cases of invasive disease attributable to Listeria monocytogenes in the United States occur among pregnant women, unborn fetuses, or newborn infants, a 13-to 17-fold increase compared with the general population. [25][26][27] Complications include a 20% risk of spontaneous abortion or stillbirth, with two-thirds of infants developing neonatal infection, including pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis. 28 …”

Food safety knowledge and practices among pregnant and non-pregnant women in Slovenia

“…Pregnant women are approximately 20 times more at risk than healthy people (Athearn et al, 2004;Gilbert, 2002). Voelker (2002) noted that safe food handling is an important aspect of good nutritional practices to prevent food-related diseases during pregnancy such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women are advised to avoid raw or undercooked fresh meat and chilled ready-to-eat food that is not freshly prepared in order to reduce the risk of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis (Gilbert, 2002).…”