Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by Successful Black Parenting Staff
BREAKING
If you live in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, or California and you’re pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a compromised immune system, you might want to avoid eating certain kinds of cheeses and deli meat for a while. The CDC is warning the public of a listeria outbreak.
Listeria is a bacteria that causes flu-like symptoms such as a fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, an upset stomach, and even more threatening complications in a fetus. “Symptoms can appear as late as two months after a person eats something contaminated with listeria.” To date, the outbreak has sickened 16 people, and one person died. An estimated 1,600 people fall ill with Listeria each year, and about 260 die from it.
Get the Monday email + free printables for your child’s age
The week's best articles for parents raising Black children, plus free printables and book picks. One email, every Monday. Sign up and we will send you our two routine charts plus a free printable made for your child’s age, from a hospital bag checklist to a teen phone agreement.
Pregnant People Avoid These Foods
These are the two types of cheeses you should avoid — Brie and Camembert. They are sold under 25 different brand names at stores like Trader Joe’s, Albertsons, and Shoprite. The company voluntarily recalled the cheeses, but deli meat is also part of the nationwide recall. The meat and cheeses have December 14th best-by-dates.
In New York, five people who purchased deli meat from NetCost Market in Brooklyn all became ill with listeria.
- Do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot. This is because Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched deli meat or cheese from the deli.
Listeria
Symptoms
People who are not pregnant may experience:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Fever
- Muscle aches
Pregnant people usually experience:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Possible pregnancy loss
- Possible premature birth
Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information and education only and is not medical advice. Successful Black Parenting Magazine and its writers are not doctors or licensed health care providers. Always talk with your doctor or a qualified health care provider before starting any exercise program, treatment, medication or supplement, and about any questions regarding your health or your child’s health. Never ignore professional medical advice or delay getting it because of something you read here. In an emergency, call 911 or your doctor right away.
comments +