The Listeria outbreak isn't going away. What to do

Mike Dang  |  03:27 PM, Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Listeria bacterium is deadlier than salmonella and E. coli, and a total of 72 people from 18 states have been infected by the strain since July 31, according to the Center for Disease Control. Thirteen deaths from eight states have been officially reported, with cantaloupes from Jensen Farms identified as the source of the outbreak.

Although the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and adults with weak immune system are the most susceptible to Listeria, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has food safety advice everyone should take as the outbreak continues to grow. They are:

• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Wash your hands after playing with pets or visiting petting zoos.
• Wash your cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next food.
• Consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. If you use cloth towels wash them often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.
• Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten.
• Rub firm-skinned fruits and vegetables under running tap water or scrub with a clean vegetable brush while rinsing with running tap water.
• Keep books, backpacks, or shopping bags off the kitchen table or counters where food is prepared or served.

In addition, prevent contamination by separating raw food from ready to eat food, and cook and chill food at appropriate temperatures. And you should probably stay away from cantaloupes for a while.