April 11, 2011

US state faces listeriosis outbreak

Last year, a listeriosis outbreak in Louisiana led to the recall of 500,000 pounds of processed meat and is drawing national attention.

This is the first time listeriosis is being linked to hog head cheese, a product made from pig heads and feet. The Listeria monocytogenes bacteria rarely affects humans, but pregnant women, older adults and people with chronic diseases face a higher risk of developing listeriosis. Areas affected include Orleans, Jefferson, Tangipahoa, Terrebone, Ascension, St. John and Lafayette parishes, said the Louisiana state health department.

The outbreak prompted the recall of hog head cheese and sausage manufactured by Veron Foods in Prairieville for the second time in three years due to listeria contamination.

In 2007, the company recalled head cheese products which may have been contaminated with listeria. Routine testing reported present bacteria, but there were no reports of illness related to the head cheese, said the USDA.

A high number of 14 listeriosis cases between January and June last year prompted state health officials to take a closer look at the outbreak. Louisiana averaged five cases for the same period in each of the three previous years. Lab work revealed that eight of the 14 cases in 2010 involved bacteria with the same characteristics.