How would you feel if the delicious tasty treats that you give your family is free from listeria contamination?
Listeria contamination
According to a statement on Nestlé's website, they will be voluntarily recalling two of their Drumstick products, the Nestlé Drumstick Club 16 Count Variety, and the 24 Count Vanilla Pack due to a possible health risk.
The products in question were produced in Bakersfield, California, between Aug. 31 and Sept. 17, and have "Best Before" dates of June 2017.
Nestlé adds that the products themselves have not tested positive for Listeria, but it was due to a positive test on the equipment used to make the products. They add that the recall is being made "out of an abundance of caution."
Currently, there have been no reports of anyone getting sick from eating Drumstick products.
Nestle also advises consumers to avoid eating the potentially contaminated products, and to immediately return it to where they purchased it. They can also send an email at [email protected].
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found naturally in soil and water. It gets spread through animals coming into contact with contaminated soil or water. Listeria outbreaks are most common in animal products, and as such, can be transmitted to humans through eating contaminated meat, or through contaminated milk and other dairy products.
Consuming food contaminated with Listeria can cause listeriosis; a deadly disease characterized by fever and muscle aches, which sometimes comes after diarrhea and other stomach problems.
Here are some of the symptoms that you should watch out for:
For pregnant women:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Aches and pains
- It can also cause stillbirth, premature delivery, and also infect the newborn
For everyone else:
- Headaches
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
Left untreated, listeriosis can cause death. The people at risk for complications stemming from listeriosis are pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
Go to the next page to learn more about listeriosis prevention!
How can I prevent listeriosis?
Thankfully, preventing listeriosis is relatively simple. Just follow these tips to make sure that you and your family are safe from infection:
When handling food:
- Make sure to wash raw produce thoroughly before eating, even if it will be peeled.
- Use a brush to scrub firm fruits and vegetables such as melons or cucumbers.
- A clean piece of cloth or paper towels should be used to dry the vegetables after washing them.
- Make sure to keep cooked meat and poultry separate from uncooked meat and poultry. Keep them stored away from vegetables and ready-to-eat foods.
- Always check the expiration date on your food, and dispose of any expired food in order to avoid any potential contamination.
In the kitchen
- Always wash your hands, as well as any utensils, chopping boards, or counter tops before preparing food.
- Keep your refrigerator temperature to 40 degrees or lower, and the freezer temperature to 0 degrees or lower, since the Listeria bacterium can grow in cold temperatures if the temperature isn't low enough.
- Keep your refrigerator clean; make sure to mop up any spills immediately, and clean the inside of your refrigerator with soap and warm water every so often.
- Make sure to cook your food thoroughly. Cook meat until the meat is no longer pink, and for fish, cook them until the flesh is white and flaky.
Sources: livescience.com, parentherald.com, cdc.com
