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Food poisoning - listeria
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Listeria is an illness caused by eating foods contaminated by the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria infection is uncommon but it can cause death in at-risk people, such as the elderly and people whose immune systems are not working properly. It can be dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Some foods are high risk
Some foods are more likely to contain listeria. These include:
- Ready-to-eat seafood, such as smoked fish or mussels
- Premixed raw vegetables, including coleslaw
- Precooked meats, such as pate, deli meat and cooked chicken used in sandwich shops
- Unpasteurised milk
- Soft-serve icecreams
- Soft cheeses like brie, camembert and ricotta.
Symptoms range from mild to severe
Early symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Aches and pain.
These can lead to more serious problems, including:
- Meningitis (brain infection)
- Septicaemia (blood poisoning).
It’s dangerous for pregnant women
Even a mild infection can cause:
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth
- Premature birth
- A baby who is very ill when born.
Other people who are at high risk
People at high risk include:
- The elderly.
- People whose immune system is weakened by illnesses like cancer, liver or kidney disease and diabetes.
- People on medications like prednisolone or cortisone. This includes organ transplant patients.
Listeria can be treated with antibiotics but prevention is best
Early use of antibiotics can help, but prevention is best. At-risk people should:
- Only eat freshly prepared foods
- Avoid high risk foods
- Avoid dips and salad dressings
- Avoid ready-to-eat foods kept in the fridge for more than one day.
Some hints when handling and preparing food
When you handle and prepare food, you should take care to:
- Wash your hands before preparing food, and between handling raw food and ready-to-eat foods.
- Wash raw fruit and vegetables well before eating.
- Cook all foods of animal origin, including eggs, thoroughly.
- Don't use the same boards, knives etc for cooked foods that you used for raw foods, unless they have been washed in warm, soapy water.
- Defrost food by placing it on the lower shelves of the fridge or use a microwave.
Store food with care
When you store food, you should:
- Keep food covered.
- Place cooked food in the fridge within one hour of cooking.
- Put raw meat, poultry and fish below cooked or ready-to-eat food in the fridge to prevent drips that could contaminate preprepared food.
- Do not use refrigerated foods beyond their use-by dates.
- Keep your fridge clean.
Food temperatures
- Your fridge temperature should be below 5°C
- Keep hot foods hot (above 60°C) and cold foods cold (at or below 5°C)
- Reheat food until the internal temperature of the food is piping hot
- Ensure microwaved food reaches an even temperature before eating.
Things to remember
- Symptoms may not appear for three to 70 days
- Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps.
You might also be interested in:
Botulism.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:
Department of Health - Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit
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Copyight © 1999/2009 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
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This Better Health Channel fact sheet has passed through a rigorous approval process. For the latest updates and more information visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
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Fact sheet currently being reviewed.
Last updated: November 2007
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Food poisoning - listeria - Better Health Channel
Listeria is an illness caused by eating foods contaminated by the bacteria Listeria Monocytogenes. Listeria infection can be dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and people whose immune systems are not working properly. High risk foods include ready-to-eat seafood, such as smoked fish or mussels, raw seafood including sushi and sashimi, premixed raw vegetables including coleslaw, precooked meats such as pate, deli meat and cooked chicken, unpasteurised milk, soft-serve icecreams and soft cheeses like brie, camembert and ricotta. Early symptoms of listeria infection include fever, headache, tiredness and aches and pains...
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Food poisoning - listeria - Better Health ChannelListeria is an illness caused by eating foods contaminated by the bacteria Listeria Monocytogenes. Listeria infection can be dangerous for pregnant women, the elderly and people whose immune systems are not working properly. High risk foods include ready-to-eat seafood, such as smoked fish or mussels, raw seafood including sushi and sashimi, premixed raw vegetables including coleslaw, precooked meats such as pate, deli meat and cooked chicken, unpasteurised milk, soft-serve icecreams and soft cheeses like brie, camembert and ricotta. Early symptoms of listeria infection include fever, headache, tiredness and aches and pains...
© State of Victoria. All rights reserved
The information published here was accurate at the time of publication and is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Please seek advice from a qualified health care professional.
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