Listeria bacteria panic: Thousands of kilograms of meat being pulled from the market

In its announcement today, the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) stated that deli meat products are being recalled due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogenic bacterium that causes illness, noting that "The problem was identified when the Maryland Department of Health notified FSIS that a sample collected tested positive for L. monocytogenes."

Stating that it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health agencies to investigate the Listeria monocytogenes infection outbreak, the FSIS reported that as of yesterday, a total of 34 illnesses had been identified across 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Officials emphasized the possibility that the product containing listeria could have cross-contaminated other items on the same counter, advising retail delis to clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces and to discard any open meats and cheeses at the deli counter.

Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause Listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects pregnant women, individuals over 65, or those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and sometimes diarrhea.