This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Foods liable to listeria contamination

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Listeria monocytogenes is unusual as it can multiply at low temperatures such as those found in refrigerators. As heating to 70 degrees for two minutes kills listeria, the greatest risk is from:

  • raw food such as cabbage
  • pre-cooked foods eaten cold or inadequately reheated
  • under-cooked food

Vulnerable patients should be advised to avoid:

  • soft ripened cheeses such as brie, camembert and blue vein types
  • pate
  • cooked-chilled meals and ready to eat poultry, unless thoroughly heated before they are eaten

Due to a listeria outbreak linked to smoked fish, people at higher risk of serious infection should only eat smoked fish products that have been thoroughly cooked (2)

  • when cooking smoked fish products at home, make sure they are steaming hot all the way through.

Reference:

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.