Deaths of unborn babies prompt listeria warnings

March 4, 2002

Wed 27 Feb 2002

Food authorities renewed warnings for pregnant women not to eat soft cheese,

raw seafood or ready-made salads following the deaths of two unborn babies.

The foetuses, aged 16 weeks and 24 weeks, died in Western Australia late

last year after their mothers contracted food poisoning from the bacteria

listeria, the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) confirmed today.

ANZFA's chief scientist n Healy said while the food-borne bacteria

listeria monocytogenes was not usually a danger to healthy people, it could

cause miscarriages or still births in pregnant women. It could also result

in serious illness among the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Unlike other forms of food poisoning, listeria infections tend to produce

mild symptoms, including a slight fever, making it difficult to diagnose.

Listeria was not a new bacteria but it had become more of a problem in

recent years because of the move towards pre-prepared convenience foods and

an increasing reliance on refrigeration, an ANZFA spokeswoman said.

The main danger foods were those commonly found in smorgasbords, salad bars,

delis and supermarket shelves she said.

Pregnant women should also avoid soft cheeses like brie, camembert and

ricotta; pate; raw and smoked seafood including oysters, sushi and smoked

salmon; ready-made salads and ready-cooked cold meats.

" First and foremost, it's vital that all pregnant women know about the

listeria bacteria and how they can protect the life and health of their

unborn baby by avoiding certain foods, " Dr Healy said in a statement.

" Listeria is destroyed by cooking but unlike other bacteria it will grow in

some food that is refrigerated.

" Pregnant women should try as much as possible to eat food that is freshly

prepared or has just been cooked, both at home and eating out. "

According to the food-borne disease surveillance network OzFoodNet, there

were 60 reported listeria infections in Australia during 2000.

Fifteen of those cases involved pregnant women.

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