Write An Essay On Listeria Outbreaks

Listeria Bacteria found in the Listeria genus are Gram-positive, flagellated, rod shaped bacteria found in several places. For instance, water, soil, and animals like cattle. The Listeria genus has the special and uncommon ability to survive and grow in severe environments, including freezing temperatures. The optimum temperature for Listeria to grow is 30 degrees to 37 degrees Celsius. (Holt, Krieg, Sneath, Staley, & Williams, 1994) These non-spore forming bacteria are also facultative anaerobes. The Listeria genus, shown in the photo above was named and founded by Dr. Joseph Lister is most commonly arranged in short chains. The complete taxonomic classification, beginning with the Kingdom, is as follows: Bacteria, Firmicutes, Bacilli, Bacillales, Listeriaceae, and Listeria. (Tortora,

Whether it is due to improper procedures or the soil it grows in, there have been numerous cases of Listeria outbreaks recently. The diagram to the left from the Center of Disease control expresses that 109 people were contaminated with Listeria from cantalopes. This was one of many deadly outbreaks in the past few years. Other large outbreaks include Blue Bell ice cream, Sabra hummus, and Dole lettuce varieties. This wide range in food items proves that although it is not very common to become infected with Listeria, it can be a dangerous pathogen in a plethora of ways. A variety of ways you can outsmart Listeria and listeriosis is by taking precautions such as rinsing all of your fresh fruits and vegetables well, abideing by expiration dates on processed foods, eating only pasturazied dairy products, heating deli meats and cooking hot dogs. You should also be particularly careful not to spill fluids from meat packages, as well as staying current on all food recalls to asure you do not have tainted food in your household. (Malkin,