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Listeria and Pregnant Women1
Amy Simonne and Donna Davis2For most families, when the good news of pregnancy gets out, both parents-to-be and other family members begin to prepare for the best and safest environment for the new addition. But did you know that during pregnancy, both the fetus and the mother are even more susceptible to many foodborne illnesses? In fact, certain bacteria can cause an infection named listeriosis, which can be fatal to the unborn fetus.
Infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like illness; however, their unborn children are at risk. Infection during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, and even stillbirth. According to the CDC, approximately 2500 people become seriously ill and 500 people die each year from listeriosis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).
If you're pregnant, it's important to follow special recommendations for food safety. For example, don't eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they're reheated until steaming hot. Also, avoid getting fluid from the meat packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling these foods (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).
Soft cheeses such as feta, brie, and camembert are off-limits unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk. Also, do not eat refrigerated pâtés, meat spreads, or smoked seafood. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés, meat spreads, and smoked seafood are okay (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).
A little diet modification can be just as important as a car seat when it comes to the safety of a new baby.
Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our Web site at http://www.familyalbumradio.org .
To listen to the radio broadcast:
http://www.radiosource.net/radio_stories/listeria.mp3
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References
Association of Women's Health, Obstestric and Neonatal Nurses. (2001, September.) Listeriosis and pregnancy: What is your risk? Retrieved May 22, 2007, from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/pubs/lm_tearsheet.pdfCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005, October.) Listeriosis. Retrieved May 22, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/listeriosis_g.htm
United States Food and Drug Association. (1992, January.) Listeria monoctyogenes. Retrieved May 22, 2007, from http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap6.html
Footnotes
1. This document is FAR8703, one of a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. First published February 2008. In the interest of time or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Please visit the EDIS Web site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Amy Simonne, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and Donna Davis, Senior Producer, Family Album Radio, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Reviewed by Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, and Executive Producer, Family Album Radio.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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