What is listeriosis? – 8 symptoms of deadly infection as salads & spinach recalled amid outbreak probe after person dies
due to the possible presence of
listeria monocytogenes.
The potentially fatal bacterium can cause
,
and may result in mild flue-like symptoms or no symptoms at all in the affected person.
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The condition can affect some people more than others
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Here are 8 Listeria symptoms to watch out for
Credit: Getty
Listeriosis is an infection in the body caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogene and usually comes from eating
While all food types can be affected, the bacteria is most commonly found in chilled and ready to eat foods.
Last week, nine people fell ill with the infection and one person passed away as health
bosses probed an "extensive outbreak"
.
A
full list of over 200 recalled ready-made meals and side dishes that were pulled from the shelves last week
.
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And all of the information surrounding the spinach and mixed salad leaves recall for the same reason can
To kill listeria, food must be
Although its rare, some people may catch Listeriosis from someone else who has it.
For example, if they haven't washed their hands and then cook food that you consume.
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And close contact with
What is Listeria and why is it dangerous?
For some, Listeriosis has few or no symptoms, or mild problems that only last a few days.
The infection is most commonly flu-like, with symptoms including a runny nose, a high temperature, aches, pains, or chills.
In some cases, it can create gastronomical issues including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
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SYMPTOMS OF LISTERIA INFECTION
SYMPTOMS of a listeria infection partly depend on where in the body that the infection happens.
If it affects the gut, you might have:
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Vomiting
These symptoms often start within a day of eating tainted food and they tend to go away within a few days.
The germs that cause a listeria infection also can spread through the blood and into the brain and spinal cord.
If this happens, you might have:
Fever and chills
Flu-like symptoms
Diarrhea or an upset stomach
Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion or changes in alertness
Loss of balance
Seizures
And
The good news is that Listeriosis is not serious for most people.
But the people who have a higher risk of serious
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newborn babies
pregnant women
people with a condition which weakens their immune system (cancer, diabetes, liver disease or kidney disease)
people receiving treatment that could weaken their immune system (chemotherapy or steroid tablets)
Risk also increases with age, meaning older people are more at risk of health complications from the infection.
HOW TO TREAT
Listeriosis usually goes away by itself within a few days.
Those infected are advised to stay home if possible and drink a lot of liquid.
Those who are at a higher risk of serious illness might need to take antibiotic medication.
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But health bosses have shared some tips on how to avoid the infection.
The first is to keep chilled, ready to eat foods cold in a working fridge.
And those foods should be eaten within 24 hours of being taken out of the fridge.
Food should also be eaten, cooked, or frozen before it's best before date.
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And raw food should be kept separate from ready to eat food.
WHAT IF I ATE THE FOOD?
If you have eaten any recalled foods and are feeling well, you do not need to do anything.
However, the FSA advise that you should seek medical advice if you become unwell within 70 days from the day of eating them.
If you have eaten any recalled foods and you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
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The infection is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, often found in food
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The Journal
10 hours ago
- The Journal
Why have there been so many food recalls over listeria?
THE FOOD SAFETY Authority has recalled almost 150 food items since last week due to the possible presence of harmful bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria is a pathogenic bacteria which can cause the listeriosis disease. Last week, one person in Ireland died as a result of listeriosis, while as of last Tuesday, nine people were confirmed to have the infection. Yesterday, seven different spinach and mixed leaves products produced by McCormack Family Farms were recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes, with two more spinach products affected by another recall today. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) had released a statement earlier today to say there are no cases of listeriosis associated with the spinach and mixed leaves products that are the subject of this recall. It said there is currently no evidence that this food recall is linked with the separate listeriosis outbreak, which first emerged last week and is related to ready-to-heat meals. The food safety watchdog acknowledged consumers may be anxious at the news of a second series of recalls involving Listeria monocytogenes. It said: 'While we urge people to be aware of the risks, and to take precautions when using ready-to-eat foods, they can be assured that there is a robust food control system in place in Ireland, which contributed to the identification of the latest need for a recall.' What has been recalled? 142 different ready-made meals and side dishes sold in major supermarkets across Ireland, which are made and distributed by Dublin-based Ballymaguire Foods , were recalled last week due to the possible presence of the bacteria. Seven different spinach and mixed leaves products produced by McCormack Family Farms were recalled yesterday due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes, with two more batches recalled today. The full list of the dates of the affected products is available on the FSAI website . Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in stores. Supermarkets impacted by the recalls include Tesco, Supervalu, Centra and Aldi. Advertisement What are Listeria monocytogenes and listeriosis? Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The pathogenic bacteria, according to the FSAI, can cause diarrhoea, fever, headache and muscle pain. Consumption of contaminated food and feed is the main route of infection by Listeria in humans and animals, although human infection can also result from contact with infected animals. The Listeria bacteria that can cause illness is killed by cooking food thoroughly. The FSAI said there are between 14 and 22 cases of listeriosis reported in Ireland each year. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. These individuals are advised to avoid higher risk foods and ensure that they cook ready-to-heat meals thoroughly until piping hot, and in line with manufacturer's instructions. What should I do if I've come into contact with a recalled food? If you have eaten any recalled foods and you feel unwell, seek medical advice. If you feel well, you don't need to do anything. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is three weeks on average, but can range between three and 70 days. Consumers are advised not to eat recalled products. The FSAI has advised consumers to dispose of them, or return them to the store where they purchased them, as directed by the retailer. Retailers are requested to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at the point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated products and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers. Caterers should not use the implicated products. Measures to reduce the risk of listeriosis: Always wash your hands before and after preparing food, and before eating Cook food thoroughly, especially meat and meat products, chicken and vegetables, and pre-prepared, ready-to-heat meals, ensuring that they are cooked through to the middle and piping hot (food that requires cooking should reach 75 degrees Celsius for at least 30 seconds) Wash salads, fruit and raw vegetables thoroughly before eating, or peel if appropriate Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked and ready-to-eat foods Wash hands, knives, and cutting boards after contact with uncooked food Make sure that your refrigerator is working correctly (it should be kept between 0 degrees Celsius and 5 degrees Celsius) When heating food in a microwave, ensure you follow heating and standing times recommended by the manufacturer Keep foods for as short a time as possible and follow storage instructions, including 'use by' dates Throw away left-over reheated food. Cooked food which is not eaten immediately should be cooled as rapidly as possible and then stored in the refrigerator Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... Our Explainer articles bring context and explanations in plain language to help make sense of complex issues. We're asking readers like you to support us so we can continue to provide helpful context to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Learn More Support The Journal
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14 hours ago
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Further batches of spinach recalled over listeria
Batches of two further spinach products sold in Irish supermarkets have been recalled due to the detection of listeria monocytogenes. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued alerts for two further products, one by McCormack Family Farms and another by Fresh Choice. The following batches of 500g McCormack Family Farms Irish Spinach Leaves have been recalled: L199, L200, L202, L203, L204 and L205. While Fresh Choice Market Spinach Leaves 100g with the following use-by dates have also been recalled: 25/07/2025, 26/07/2025, 27/07/2025, 28/07/2025, 29/07/2025, 30/07/2025 and 31/07/2025. The FSAI has requested that retailers remove the implicated products from sale, and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers and distributors are being asked to contact their affected customers and recall the affected products and put a recall notice in place. Caterers who may be in possession of the impacted products have been asked not to use them, while consumers are advised not to eat them. The FSAI has said there is currently "no evidence that this food recall is linked with the listeriosis outbreak related to ready-to-heat meals that is currently under investigation". Over 200 ready-made meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods were called back early last week. The authority said that one person with a confirmed case of listeria died, while nine other cases were identified as of Tuesday last week. The FSAI's latest update follows a recall yesterday of seven spinach and mixed leaves products following detection of harmful bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The FSAI said that symptoms of listeria can include mild flu-like symptoms such as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Symptoms can be more severe in rare cases, it added. "Some people are more vulnerable to listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. "The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days," said the FSAI. The FSAI said today that to date, there are no cases of listeriosis associated with the spinach and mixed leaves products that were subject of yesterday's recall. How inspections are carried out The FSAI and official agencies carry out inspections of food production facilities and review all the control measures in place. This includes examining the testing regimes for listeria at the factory and also taking official control samples of food and equipment. These official control samples are tested for listeria monocytogenes in accredited laboratories run by the State. Where listeria monocytogenes is found in any official control samples, enforcement action is taken to minimise or eliminate the risk to consumers. "Precautionary recalls of food due to Listeria monocytogenes can be found by either the food business itself or the authorities and happen from time to time, reflecting the high level of awareness, control and testing that takes place in factory settings," the FSAI said.
