The Australia New Zealand Food Authority today issued advice to pregnant women about the risk of contracting the food poisoning bacteria listeria.
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This follows the confirmed deaths from listeria infection of two unborn babies in Western Australia.
The Chief Scientist for the Australia New Zealand Food Authority, Dr Marion Healy, said that pregnant women need to know about the dangers of the foodborne bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and the steps they can take to prevent infection of their unborn or newly born baby.
“First and foremost, it’s vital that all pregnant women know about the listeria bacteria, and how they can protect the life and health of their unborn baby by avoiding certain foods,” Dr Healy said.
“Listeria rarely causes illness in healthy people, but it can cause serious illness in the elderly or people with poor immune systems, and it can cause women to have miscarriages or stillbirths. Listeria infection can make a newborn baby very ill.
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By GlobalData“Listeria isn’t a new bacteria but it’s only over the last ten years that it’s been widely recognised that listeria is transmitted through contaminated food. Listeria is destroyed by cooking but unlike other bacteria it will grow in some food that is refrigerated. Pregnant women should try as much as possible to eat food that is freshly prepared or has just been cooked, both at home and eating out. They should also avoid salad bars and smorgasbords.
“Pregnant women should also avoid certain chilled ready-to-eat foods. These are:
*soft cheeses such as brie, camembert and ricotta;
*paté;
*raw or smoked seafood such as oysters, sashimi, smoked salmon, sushi (including frozen seafood but remember that canned seafood is safe);
*ready-made salads from a salad bar or prepackaged from the supermarket or deli; and
*ready-cooked cold meats, including chicken, from a deli, supermarket or sandwich bar.
“While listeria infections in Australia are rare, it is important that pregnant women avoid these foods because of the significant risk they pose to the unborn baby. The listeria bacteria can be difficult to diagnose during pregnancy, so the best advice for women is to take preventative action and think food safety at all times. This message is also important for people with suppressed immune systems.
“To avoid listeria contamination when cooking at home, follow the usual food safety practices. For example, when handling raw meat thaw it in the refrigerator, where it should be covered, and make sure it cannot drip on other food. Always wash hands, knives and cutting boards in warm water and with soap after handling raw food. Cook food thoroughly and serve steaming hot and refrigerate any left overs as soon as they have stopped steaming.” Dr Healy concluded.
According to OzFoodNet-a network for enhancing foodborne disease surveillance-there were 60 reported listeria infections in Australia during 2000. Fifteen of these infections were in pregnant women, and the remaining 45 infections were in people with suppressed immune systems or undergoing immuno-suppressive therapy.
A brochure on Listeria and Pregnancy is available free of charge from ANZFA’s website www.anzfa.gov.au or by contacting ANZFA on (02) 6271 2241.
