An authoritative figure has delivered a grave warning about the risks associated with consuming many common meals, which pose a significant risk to the health of expecting mothers.
Several popular foods can cause listeria in pregnant women, according to Associate Professor Julian Cox of the UNSW Food Safety Programme.
Both the mother and her unborn child are at risk of serious sickness or death when exposed to the food-borne bacterium listeria. Potential complications include the possibility of a miscarriage or foetal meningitis.
Six individuals in New South Wales died in 2018 after consuming listeria-laced rockmelon.
Along with hard cheeses and unpasteurized dairy products, Prof. Cox warns against eating deli meats, pre-packaged meats, and meat spreads kept in the fridge, such as pate.
Some other items that are not recommended are raw seed sprouts, soft-serve ice cream, unpasteurized fruit juices, pre-packaged salads and fruits (particularly rockmelon), and cold seafood.
Immunocompromised individuals and those 65 and older are more vulnerable to the devastating effects of a listeria infection.
The unborn kid can still suffer harm, even if the pregnant mother shows no symptoms of a listeria infection, according to Prof. Cox.
He explained that infections can have serious consequences, including meningitis in the developing baby, miscarriage, stillbirth, and listeriosis in infants.
According to Professor Cox, unlike other food-borne diseases like salmonella, listeria is extremely hardy and may even multiply in the fridge.
“Because listeria can grow in refrigeration, which can happen in retail storage, use-by dates should also be carefully considered,” he said.
“You might end up with more than what you expected from a ‘bargain’ with a short shelf life.”
Professor Cox advised choosing pasteurised milk over unpasteurized dairy products and hard cheeses over soft cheeses as safer alternatives.
