‘Listeria hysteria’ unfairly damns red meat industry
THE Red Meat Industry Forum says the entire processed meat industry has been implicated in “listeria hysteria” without justification.
As a result of misinformation put out in the public domain, the forum says the consequences have been “devastating”, with a catastrophic impact on the processed meat industry and the red meat industry in its entirety.
Listeria has so far claimed 183 lives countrywide.
Chairperson Dave Ford said information from health authorities has been devoid of detail which is not only detrimental to the consumer, but also the industry.
“The average consumer is being led into a listeria hysteria which is having unfortunate consequences for families who rely on processed meat as a source of protein,” he said.
Listeria monocytogenes is the primary cause of the illness called listeriosis. This bacterium is widely distributed in nature and has been found in soil, water, sewage, mud, silage and decaying vegetation.
“It has been isolated from humans, a wide variety of animals and birds, animal products, fresh produce such as vegetables and fruit, food packaging and processing environments,” Ford said.
The outbreak has emphasised the responsibility of the red meat industry together with other food industries to provide for proper and improved hygiene during the production, processing, packaging and preparation of red meat and red meat products.
Provincial health department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said 115 cases of listeriosis have been confirmed in the Western Cape with 29 deaths.
“Anyone can get listeriosis if they have consumed contaminated food. Those at high risk of severe disease are; newborns, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women and their unborn babies, and those with underlying conditions such as HIV, diabetes, cancer, chronic liver or kidney disease,” Van der Heever said.
In people with weak immunity, listeriosis can lead to meningitis or septicemia. In pregnant women, it may result in pregnancy loss, premature births, infection of the newborn with permanent disability, stillbirth or meningitis of their infant.
“In at-risk patients‚ the spread of infection to the nervous system can… lead to headaches‚ confusion‚ stiff neck‚ loss of balance or convulsions. The presence of bacteria in the blood‚ also known as bacteraemia‚ may also occur,” Van der Heever said.
Pregnant women may present with mild flu-like illness associated with headache, fever and myalgia.
“Gastroenteritis due to listeria usually does not require treatment. Meningitis or septicaemia due to listeria can be life-threatening and is treated with intravenous antibiotics.”
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