Anyone else not worried about listeriosis?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

When I was pg with DD, I was terrified of listeriosis. But to be honest this time around, I'm not worried and to be honest I'm still eating things like ham that you're not meant to. Listeriosis is very rare anyway and I figure I've got more chance of being in a car accident or something anyway . . . it just doesn't seem like something worth being pedantic about. I already find it incredibly difficult to choose what I want to eat, eliminate all of the 'danger foods' would make it impossible!

Anyone else?

[madamerogers]

yes me too. and i'm a chef. sometimes i freak out and think what if it does happen, but our food safety standards are very good here- i you aren't too silly either.

[Purple Penguin]

it didn't worry me first time round, not really worried this time round either...

[satya]

Not being worried about it does not make you immune from it.

FYI Coles had to take ham off it's shelves due to listeria during my pregnancy & my son is only a year old. It may be rare but it does still happen.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I think that's just it - as long as you're sensible with your food, that's the main thing. I make sure I eat leftovers the night after they were first cooked (though even then, depending on what it is, if its properly stored and then heated you could probably go another night . . . ) and all the food goes straight back into the fridge after its been taken out, etc.

I don't understand the whole egg thing either, my stepdad pointed out to me the other day . . . eggs are SEALED. How can they have germs when they're totally sealed?!

[krysalyss]

Maybe you eat mostly at home? I think it is particularly important for people who eat away from home a lot. Especially buffets, food courts etc. They are always risky. I really missed sushi when I was pg as I can't make it well at home. And although I rarely had soft cheeses I really missed them just cos I couldnt have them. Im a vege so didn't need to worry about the cold meat bit.

[krysalyss]

Im a vege

At the moment that means I am a bit of a turnip but hoping to look more like a carrot soon. he he!

[Lulu]

Actually one of the most tragic cases of listeria involved food served by a VERY large caterer (hospitals etc - therefore you would think that would be safe), and resulted in 3 stillborn babies. What did they eat? FRUIT SALAD. Most people think that's safe too.........

I'm not being fatalistic, in fact I was completely unaware there were any foods you couldn't eat with my first preg - but you can't think ignorance is bliss, when you KNOW there are risks.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Lulu, isn't fruit and raw vege okay as long as its washed?! Surely the caterer washed the stuff first . . .

[Janie]

Salad is very easily contaminated. I personally wouldn't eat it while pg, except for when it's prepared at home.

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Far out! I had no idea! Are there certain foods in the 'high risk' category that are more high risk than others then?

[Janie]

Yes, but I can't remember them all now. I know rice is particularly bad. As in leftover rice, or cold rice (ie. in sushi).

ETA Eggs can contain salmonella, although I think it's quite rare. The shell is not 100% protective. And of course eggs, like all foodstuffs can grow bacteria.....how do you think they go off?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Oh yes, I know about rice. I've had many an arguement with the ILs about it who, when I tell them that you can extremely sick if you leave rice at room temperature, say "You are 100% wrong" just because they've always done it. Doesn't mean there was never a chance of getting sick! Or more likely, people *have* gotten sick but didn't realize what caused it. I am very pedantic about rice since a customer at one of my jobs a while back got food poisoning from our rice. To be honest I blame the manager for not educating the staff on this matter.

True that eggs go off lol, but even stuff that's vaccuumed sealed does too. What's my point? I have no idea, I think I'm having a pregnant moment actually XD

[LimeSlice]

The water content is what is important Nee...the more water, the more chance of bacterial growth.
Hence rice being the most hogh risk food people dont thin about...same for fruit salad.

The pathogens in mouldy capsicum cannot be digested by the body normally, so during pregnancy can make you quite sick...

With eggs - it should just be taken for granted that they are 50% salmonella lol treat them as if they are going to make you sick to begin with,,,but ut us actually people not wasing their eggs that can cause most of the problems. The faecal residue on the shells can contaminate the egg at the time you break it, also other chemicals and bacteria from the birds themselves cause illness very easily - always wash your eggs before using them

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Thanks, that makes sense actually. Lol I hate it when the eggs in the carton have poo on them *vomit*, I usually wash or at least wrinse my eggs anyway for that reason.

So if water content is the biggest factor, just how bad is sliced meat? And also, this means I shouldn't get salad rolls from the deli for lunch anymore hey?

[LimeSlice]

The issue with sliced meat is the meat itself...rots easily and is affected by the fact that it usually already has a high bacterial count anyway.
If you are going to the deli or coles, ask them to slice you fresh meat form the actually ham leg or whatever. The presliced meat has a greater surface area, ie EACH SLICE has 2 sides and the edge, whereas the roll of devon has only 2 sides and the edges, so the air cannot get to the middle of it (it will rot from the outside in) So the greater the surface area, the great area for bacterial growth and therefore the larger quantity of bacteria there will be iykwim.
Of course the other factor people do not tend to mention with processed meats is the processing itself. The more handling and mutilation of the core foodstuff (meats, ofals, additives, etc) the more chance there is for contamination at any stage of the process, be it all stages of one, if something is amiss at any stage, it will effect the final product...so the fod can be contaminated before the deli even gets it or touches it.

sort of like a fire there is an essential factor equation for bacterial growth...the equation works out to be something like moisture + air + heat + fuel = bacterial growth.

So that is why cryovacced food can sit on a bench or be stored for longer than wrapped meats - there is no air in there, so part of the equation is missing
Salting meats works to preserve them because it dehydrates, again removing one of the key factors for bacterial growth and survival.

[Indadhanu]

I was - to quote the government PMSL - alert but not alarmed At the beginning of the pregnancy I was extremely vigilant, then towrads secod tri I relaxed a little. There were still things I wouldn't eat, like raw eggs, cold sliced meats, those gross cheeses, dodgey chinese places lol, but I did eat at our local Subway. I knew them, trusted their food safety standards with the salad, and only had the hot meats for the meat part of it.

Anyway, it didn't happen to me, but it still can happen. I guess it just depends on how you'd feel if it did happen to you KWIM? You need to be aware of the what ifs, decide what risk you choose to take. We do take risks every day in pretty much every way, I take a risk taking Jazz on the bus or walking down the street... anyway, I was sensible IMO, but not to the point of living on bread and water in fear of everything...

[Lulu]

Lulu, isn't fruit and raw vege okay as long as its washed?! Surely the caterer washed the stuff first . . .

Once it's been cut, it's high risk. In this case they hadn't washed the outside of the fruit before cutting (it doesn't mean it didn't look clean), the fruit salad was packed in takeaway containers and was there for 3 days before serving. All wrong - and yes the caterer is under strict regulation.