DEAR DR. GOTT: Every time I listen to the news on my television or the radio, I hear of more problems regarding the bad cantaloupe that came from the Midwest. I had melon recently and am now scared. I am afraid to buy any fruit for fear of developing GI problems. Can you update me?
DEAR READER: The bacterium involved with this newest outbreak is known as listeria monocytogenes that appears to target newborns, pregnant women, older adults, and those with a compromised immune system. However, it has been observed in people outside the categories listed. Government investigators are still searching for the cause of this particular outbreak that may stem from animal or water contamination, or from the harvesting process itself (such as manure possibly used as a fertilizer). The CDC is also recommending that people dispose of cantaloupes that have the Rocky Ford label.
The outbreak began in late summer and was traced to the Jensen Farm in Granada, Colorado. The facility self-imposed a withdrawal of the product in question. As of September 30th, a total of 15 deaths and 72 cases were reported in 19 states with the four outbreak-associated strains of listeria. All of the illnesses began on or after July 31st. You didn’t indicate in your email where you live; however, those states affected include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The farm is known to have shipped the fruit across the country to include other states, but it appears some areas thus far have been exempt from this massive outbreak.
Symptoms of listeria (that can present relatively promptly following exposure or may take a number of days to appear) include headache, stiff neck, loss of balance, fever, and muscle aches that are often preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms to include diarrhea. Most human infections follow the consumption of contaminated foods (not only cantaloupe), to include uncooked meats and vegetables. Contamination can also occur following processing or cooking and can affect soft cheeses such as feta, deli meats, smoked seafood, raw milk, and foods made from milk that has not been pasteurized.
Diagnosis is based on a person’s medical history and physical examination. In some instances, laboratory or spinal fluid testing may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis.
Prevention is paramount for this and all other forms of bacterium. Be sure to rinse all fruits and vegetables before eating. Keep all uncooked meats and poultry separate from cooked foods and those that are ready to eat. Do not drink raw milk or consume foods that have non-pasteurized foods in the ingredients. I know I will get thrashed by dairy farmers for panning raw milk but the potential for contamination is real. Thoroughly cook beef, pork and poultry to a safe internal temperature. Keep cooked hot foods hot at 140 degrees or above and cold foods cold at 40 degrees of below. Leftovers should be reheated to at least 165 degrees. Wash counter tops, cutting boards, knives and other utensils after handling uncooked foods. Keep in mind that listeria can grow in foods while in your refrigerator, so to simply wipe off a knife or other utensil without using soap, warm water or rinsing properly and placing that equipment back in a drawer can set the stage for cross contamination to the next item the equipment is used on.
Simple precautions will save you and your family lots of headaches, literally, down the line. If you are unsure whether a food item is safe to eat because it may have been in the refrigerator for a number of days or because it was left out on a counter for an extended period, remember the rule. When in doubt, throw it out. Don’t take chances with your health. It’s simply not worth the potential consequences.
News update! A new outbreak of listeria — this time in the form of bagged romaine lettuce — was detected in Salinas, California. The company issued a recall for lettuce with a specific date of packaging and as of this writing, the situation isn’t as frightening as the one with cantaloupes. Also, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is also asking people not to consume True Leaf Farms bagged romaine lettuce as it may also be contaminated by listeria. This is an ever-growing issue so be sure to keep up-to-date to avoid potentially hazardous foods.
