Q-and-A About Cantaloupe, Lettuce Listeria Pregnancy Scare

Listeria from Jensen Farms cantaloupe sickened 100, killed 18 , and caused one miscarriage. True Leaf Farms recalled lettuce for listeria. Fruit Fresh Up has recalled cut cantaloupe and mixed fruit due to Listeria. Pregnant women, infants in utero and newborns are at high risk for listeria illness.

What is listeria?

Listeria, also called listeriosis, is a food-borne pathogen. Common sources include raw meats, cheese and vegetables. It generally shows up as listeria monocytogenes meningitis. This is the variation of listeria that is most harmful to pregnant women and infants.

Who is most vulnerable to infection listeria outbreaks?

Pregnant women, newborns, those with compromised immune systems and elderly people are most vulnerable. Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to contract listeriosis. Infants born to mothers who had listeria are also have more health issues. In this most recent listeria outbreak, an Iowa woman came down with listeria symptoms after eating tainted cantaloupe. Shortly after symptoms appeared, she miscarried. Physicians are adding this infant death to the other 18 fatalities.

Why are pregnant women more vulnerable to listeria?

There are several reasons. First, pregnant women are also more susceptible to all illnesses. Also, initial listeria symptoms feel much like early pregnancy conditions. Symptoms include: fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems. Besides fever all of these can be associated with pregnancy. Also, listeria has a long incubation period. It can take up to 8 weeks for symptoms to appear. A woman in early stages of pregnancy may not know that she is carrying a child or that she has also contracted listeria. The bacteria has invaded the placenta by that time.

Why is listeria so dangerous to pregnant women?

Listeria monocytogenes, linked to meningitis, are the strains of bacteria associated with the 2011 outbreaks. Listeria monocytogenes meningitis symptoms include: headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. What may be just food poisoning in an adult, is deadly to a developing fetus. It transfers to the infant as meningitis and can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and health complications if the child survives the pregnancy. In a 1985 Jalisco cheese listeria outbreak , 19 stillborn babies were included in the 52-person death toll. 10 other newborns died as a result of listeria monocytogenes.

How does listeria affect pregnant women and infants?

Listeria usually goes septic or systemic, meaning it invades the whole body. If that happens it is termed listeria monocytogenes meningitis. It is no longer isolated to gastrointestinal problems. Pregnant women who contract listeria can very easily pass it to their unborn child through the placenta or umbilical cord. The disease can damage the placenta, causing miscarriage or premature labor.

Which states have listeria warnings?

From cantaloupe recall: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, Indiana, Wisconsin, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming and now Iowa. From the romaine lettuce recall: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont. The Fresh Fruit Up cantaloupe recall is part of the larger Jensen Farms cantaloupe recall.

What precautions should be taken?

Health officials say to clean hands frequently and wash surfaces and utensils between preparation steps. Food should be cooked to proper internal temperatures and stored chilled. Produce should be washed thoroughly, after peeling. Even bagged "pre-washed" vegetables and fruit should be rinsed or washed with fruit wash. Homemade produce wash can be made from baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice.

How can pregnant women stay current about health and safety concerns, including listeria?

Get food and medical health updates, as RSS feeds, email alerts or mobile browser apps, from the FDA, USDA . For biohazards and environment warnings, visit the EPA and type in your state to get local updates. For product safety updates, visit the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes from 23 years parenting four children and 25 years teaching K-8, special needs, adult education and homeschool.