The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has elevated the risk warning for broccoli sold at Walmart. The warning, which was originally issued in December, has been increased to the highest recall category of the FDA, reports have said.
“This advisory is being initiated due to possibility of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The potential for contamination was discovered during random sampling by Texas Health & Human Services from a Texas store location where one of multiple samples yielded a positive test result,” the US FDA has said.
What is Listeria monocytogenes?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen responsible for listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness. It is a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that thrives in various environments, including soil, water, and food processing facilities. Unlike many other bacteria, L. monocytogenes can grow at refrigeration temperatures, making it a significant concern in ready-to-eat foods, dairy products, deli meats, seafood, and unpasteurized milk.
The pathogen affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, as their immune systems are weaker.
The common symptoms seen in a listeria infection are fever, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system, causing meningitis, encephalitis, or septicemia, which can be life-threatening. In pregnant women, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth, even if the mother experiences only mild flu-like symptoms.
Why is listeria deadly?
This is because the pathogen forms a layer or biofilm on the food product making it resistant to cleaning and disinfectants. This allows it to persist in food production environments, increasing the risk of contamination.
To stay safe, high-risk individuals are advised to avoid raw sprouts, soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, refrigerated deli meats or in this case broccoli florets unless heated to steaming hot temperatures.
To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this product, the US FDA confirms. “Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women,” it has warned consumers.
