With the arrival of hot summer, various chilled and refrigerated foods are gradually becoming popular, but safety issues still need to be taken seriously, because even in refrigerated environments, many psychrophilic bacteria can still reproduce in large numbers. One of the bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, needs to be particularly vigilant because it specializes in targeting pregnant women and babies. How can we avoid it in daily life?

01

A woman miscarried at 37 weeks of pregnancy due to consuming refrigerated food

Recently, a "expectant mother" shared her experience on social media: at 37 weeks of pregnancy, she was infected with Listeria monocytogenes due to consuming refrigerated food and eventually had a miscarriage.

This expectant mother's self blame review is heart wrenching and has also attracted a lot of attention. The doctor explained that Listeria monocytogenes mostly occurs in summer and autumn, with a peak in incidence from June to September. The refrigerator is a breeding ground for Listeria monocytogenes.

This type of pathogen has slightly different biological characteristics from other bacteria. Even at around 4 ℃, it can still grow freely in the refrigerator, which can lead to a misconception that if my food is left in the refrigerator, it may not have spoiled and I can eat normally. However, at this point, Listeria monocytogenes may have already started to multiply in large quantities on these foods, and after being ingested by the human body, it can easily cause illness. Doctors point out that Listeria infection is relatively hidden, and ordinary adults usually experience mild flu symptoms after being infected, which are often non-specific. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, joint pain, etc. If pregnant women, infants, and other immunocompromised individuals are unfortunately infected, the consequences may be more severe.

In addition, Listeria monocytogenes has another characteristic. In addition to infecting pregnant women, it can also vertically infect fetuses through the placental barrier, leading to developmental arrest and some adverse pregnancy events. In addition to the symptoms of the mother's body itself, special attention may need to be paid to the performance of the fetus. If you find that the number of fetal movements seems to be abnormal compared to usual, or the fetal activity is significantly different from before, you must go to the hospital for treatment and disposal.

02

Which foods may contain Listeria monocytogenes?

Listeria monocytogenes cannot be detected by taste, smell, or the naked eye. It is widely present in the environment and can be isolated from almost all environments such as soil, animals, plants, and wastewater. Therefore, there are many opportunities for food contamination during the production process.

As a facultative anaerobic bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes can also survive in anaerobic environments, and therefore can be found in vacuum packaged cooked sausages, Italian ham, bacon, and other foods.

Based on past outbreaks, Listeria infection is often associated with unsterilized raw milk, salads, unwashed raw vegetables, cooked meat, and pre cut fruits.

Listeria monocytogenes in the soil can easily splash out on rainy days, splashing onto the surface or skin of fruits and vegetables (such as cantaloupe) growing at lower ground levels. There are many mesh patterns on the skin of Hami melon, which are not easy to clean. Therefore, when people cut the melon, Listeria monocytogenes will be carried to the flesh.

In addition, cantaloupe has low acidity and is often kept in the refrigerator for a long time, which is also beneficial for the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. So, some experts suggest that people at higher risk of listeriosis should eat less pre cut cantaloupe.

03

When using a refrigerator to refrigerate food

What are the precautions?

Due to the rapid growth of bacteria at temperatures of 5 ℃ and above, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment should be maintained at 4 ° C or below. However, this seemingly simple suggestion has not been met by many families.

Experts suggest placing several adhesive thermometers in different areas of the refrigerator, and adjusting them if the temperature in a certain area is found to be too high.

It is worth mentioning that the temperature inside the refrigerator may also vary. The temperature is usually lower at the back of the refrigerator, while the refrigerator door is the hottest place.

Here are some tips to remember when storing food in a refrigerator:

Milk, raw meat, and other foods are best not placed on the shelf on the refrigerator door, but rather near the back of the refrigerator.

Raw meat and ready to eat food should be stored separately. Raw meat is best stored at the bottom of the refrigerator.

There are quite a few things, so you can use rotating trays and other storage items. However, it is important to note that the refrigerator should avoid being too full and try to maintain a capacity of around 75% so that cold air can circulate normally.

In addition, avoid frequently opening the refrigerator door or keeping it open for too long. Every time you open the door, warm air will flow into the refrigerator, and the longer the refrigerator door is open, the closer the internal temperature will be to room temperature, which helps bacteria to grow. The sealing strip of the refrigerator door should also be regularly inspected and cleaned.

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