Methods to shield your self from meals contaminated by listeria

BANGOR, Maine — As issues develop over meals remembers as a consequence of listeria in Maine, there are steps you possibly can take to remain wholesome and shield your loved ones.

Within the final month, Hannaford recalled a number of forms of store-brand frozen waffles for attainable listeria contamination, and Shaw's pulled a dozen ready meals from its cabinets for a similar cause.

The US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) supplies data on all remembers and lists them on its web site.

Hannaford additionally shares its recall notices on-line to make sure clients are stored knowledgeable.

In an announcement, Caitlin Cortelyou, Hannaford's director of exterior communications, stated security is a precedence for the corporate. “We’re working intently with our suppliers and regulatory companions to watch these points and can proceed to guage any extra actions that could be essential.”

Retailers reply shortly to remembers by eradicating affected merchandise from their cabinets.

Jeremy Edwards, co-owner of Edwards Brothers Supermarkets, stated they take remembers severely.

“The general public trusts us as retailers to not solely supply inexpensive merchandise, but in addition high quality merchandise, and security is essential,” he stated.

If you are going to buy a recalled merchandise, you could throw it away or return it. Most grocery shops supply a full refund.

Should you eat an merchandise earlier than it’s recalled that could possibly be contaminated with listeria, the Maine CDC recommends looking forward to signs.

“Fever, nausea, diarrhea, headache,” stated Sara Robinson, director of the Maine CDC's Infectious Ailments Epidemiology Program. “Should you begin experiencing these signs, you need to name your supplier.”

Robinson stated the remembers are primarily a precautionary measure, since listeria infections are uncommon.

There may be a median of fewer than ten instances a 12 months in Maine.

“There's no cause to panic about these remembers,” Robinson stated.

Based on Robinson, listeria infections can pose severe dangers to sure teams, together with pregnant ladies, newborns, and folks with weakened immune techniques.

“It shouldn’t be taken evenly in case you have it, however once more, it’s a uncommon situation,” Robinson added.

To attenuate the danger of listeria and different foodborne diseases, the Maine CDC recommends washing your arms totally earlier than cooking and consuming, cooking meals to the right temperature, and avoiding cross-contamination within the kitchen.

For extra data on meals remembers and security ideas, customers can go to FoodSafety.gov for the newest updates and steering.

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