National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (U.S.). Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases.

Germs, like Listeria, can be spread through food. Listeria strikes hard at pregnant women and their newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune

systems.

If you, or someone you make food for, are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system:

• Reheat hot dogs and deli meats to steaming hot or 165° F just before serving.

• Select canned or shelf-stable pâté and meat spreads that do not need refrigeration before opening. Refrigerate after opening.

• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is in a cooked dish, such as a casserole, or is canned or shelf stable.

• Refrigerated smoked seafood is most often labeled as nova-style, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky.

• Canned and shelf stable tuna, salmon, and other fish products are safe to eat.

• Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk and do not eat foods that contain unpasteurized milk.

• Do not eat soft cheese, such as queso fresco, feta, Brie, Camembert, and blue-veined cheeses, unless the label says, “made with pasteurized milk.”

Most people with Listeria infections require hospital care and about one in five die.

tips-preventing-listeria-508c.pdf

Pamphlet (or booklet)

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection