Listeria Bacteria Contamination Symptoms: Sabra Hummus Recalled In US, Canada; What You Should Know About Listeriosis
On Saturday, Sabra Dipping Co. announced a recall of some hummus products due to listeria concerns. According to the US Food and Drug Association, the potentially contaminated products were distributed in the United States and Canada and manufactured before November 8 at a plant where Listeria monocytogenes have been found. The bacteria has not been found in tested finished product.
“Consumers with any product with a 'Best Before' date up through January 23, 2017 are urged to discard it,” the FDA wrote about Sabra’s recent hummus recall.
Sabra products not included in the recall are its organic hummus, salsa, guacamole and Greek yogurt dips.
When food contaminated with the bacteria called listeria monocytogenes is consumed, the person is at risk for listeriosis, which is a life-threatening infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
The symptoms of listeriosis vary depending on the health of the person. In fact, healthy folks rarely develop invasive listeriosis, according to the CDC.
Mild symptoms of listeriosis are commonly fever, chills, severe headache, and other flu-like feelings. These symptoms can also be preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Pregnant women who get listeriosis typically experience only fever and possibly chills and headache. However, infection at this time can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
Higher-risk people — other than pregnant women — can experience symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics and some cases result in death, but that outcome is more likely in older adults and those with other serious medical problems. According to the CDC, no treatment is needed if a person has eaten food contaminated with listeria but does not have any symptoms.
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