FSANZ issues Listeria warning
1 November 2007
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today reissued its advice on Listeria in food after a University of Wollongong study* found that 57% of the pregnant women surveyed weren’t aware of all the foods that are potentially high risk and approximately 25% continued to eat these high risk foods while pregnant.
FSANZ’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Bob Boyd, said that according to OzFoodNet during 2006 in Australia there were eight Listeria infections in pregnant women with two deaths out of the eight babies and that there were 51 Listeria infections in the elderly or immuno-compromised with 7 deaths.
‘The food industry, state and territory regulatory authorities and FSANZ have extensive management processes in place to prevent Listeria contamination during food production. However, listeriosis is usually caused by people at risk eating food that has not been stored or handled properly once the food has been produced or cooked.
‘Listeria bacteria are found widely in nature and may be present in pre-prepared uncooked foods or pre-cooked foods which have been kept for some time after they have cooled down.
‘If you or anyone in your household is pregnant, immuno-compromised or elderly, it is important you reduce your risk by taking a few simple precautions. For example: by eating only freshly prepared and well-washed food, following good food hygiene practice such as washing and drying hands, by cooking foods thoroughly, and by refrigerating leftovers immediately and keeping them no more than a day.
‘FSANZ has a free brochure that contains advice on safer eating alternatives for people at risk in the meat, chicken, salads, seafood and dairy products food categories. It also lists some higher risk foods that people at risk should be wary of consuming especially if they are unsure about how the foods have been stored and handled. However, the higher risk foods become safe if you cook the food or reheat it to steaming hot throughout, and serve it hot.
‘Remember that good nutrition is essential during pregnancy, for those with poor immune systems and the elderly. So it is important to replace any food from the ‘avoid’ group with a similar one from the ‘safe’ group. For example you can replace soft cheese with packaged cottage cheese or cheddar and make your own salads just before the meal instead of buying them pre-prepared.
‘The University of Wollongong research also found that 59% of pregnant women had received some sort of information on food safety. Those that had information received it from a number of sources including 48% from their social network, 42% from health care providers and 27% from a Listeria pamphlet.
‘I would like to remind health professionals of the dangers of Listeria and to make sure they have supplies of the FSANZ brochure on Listeria. I also suggest that family and friends may also want to remind pregnant women about the risks of Listeria, especially first time mothers,’ Dr Boyd concluded.
The Listeria brochure is available on the FSANZ website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/Listeria.pdf and copies can be ordered by emailing info@foodstandards.gov.au . There is a full list of higher risk foods and advice for health professionals on the FSANZ website
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2005/Listeriacommonlyaske3115.cfm . Pregnant women and health professionals can also find information at the NSW Food Authority's website at http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/consumer/pregnancy.asp or via its NSW telephone Helpline on 1300 552 406 where brochures in 12 languages can be requested.
Mediacontact: Lydia Buchtmann FSANZ 0411 268 525 or +61 2 6271 2620 or
- Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2007 vol. 31 no. 5), “Listeria education in pregnancy: lost opportunity for health professionals”, D. Bondarianzadeh, H. Yeatman & D. Condon-Paoloni