A Hidden Threat to Moms and Their Babies

By Nancy Piette, R.D., M.S.

Published in the Holiday 2005 Issue of the Family Post

Did you know that when a pregnant woman eats lunch meats, deli meats, or hot dogs, she should REHEAT them until they are STEAMING HOT?

Did you know that if a pregnant woman eats soft cheeses like Feta, Brie, Camembert, “blue-veined cheese”, or “queso blanco”, “queso fresco” or Panela, she should make sure the label says “made with pasteurized milk” or else NOT eat them?

New information from U.S. government health experts says that pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get a foodborne illness called Listeriosis because of hormonal changes during pregnancy. Listeria bacteria can be found in the foods above unless the suggested precautions are taken. Other foods that may contain Listeria are refrigerated pate or meat spreads, refrigerated smoked seafood, and raw (unpasteurized) milk.

“What's the big deal? It can't be that bad to get a little food poisoning, can it?”

Yes it can, for a pregnant woman and her growing baby. Most of the time, pregnant women who are infected with Listeriosis don't feel sick. But, they can pass the infection to their unborn babies without even knowing it. In fact, Listeriosis can cause miscarriage, premature labor, a low-birth-weight baby, or even infant death. Fetuses who suffer a late-in-pregnancy infection may develop mental retardation, paralysis, seizures, blindness, or impairments of the brain, heart, or kidney.

“What else can I do to prevent listeriosis?”

You can use a refrigerator thermometer to make sure your refrigerator stays at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and your freezer at 0 degrees F.

Follow the 2-hour rule: Throw out food that's left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.

Use ready-to-eat, perishable foods such as dairy, meat, poultry, seafood and produce as soon as possible.

Follow the instructions above about reheating until steaming hot any lunch or deli meats and hot dogs, and make sure the cheeses listed above are made from pasteurized milk. Also note the other foods listed above that can contain Listeria bacteria.

“What if I get symptoms like fever, chills, muscle ache, diarrhea, upset stomach, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance?”

Go to your doctor or health care provider immediately. A blood test can be performed to find out if your symptoms are caused by Listeriosis. Antibiotics are given to treat Listeriosis in the mother, and in most cases this prevents infection of the fetus.

It's okay to eat:

Canned or shelf-stable (able to be stored unrefrigerated on the shelf) pates and meat spreads.

Canned or shelf-stable, smoked seafood.

Foods that contain pasteurized milk and pasteurized milk (most of the milk in stores is pasteurized).

If you would like more about this topic, go to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Web Site for Pregnant Women at www.cfsan.fda.gov/pregnancy.html.

Nancy Piette, R.D., M.S., Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Dietitian/Nutritionist, Nevada County Community Health Department. (530) 254-1454