Listeria and pregnancy

Listeria infection is caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. It is one of the most serious types of food poisoning.

Listeria bacteria are widely found in dust, soil, water, plants, sewage and animal droppings. Due to contamination, they have also been found in a variety of foods, including raw meat, raw vegetables and some processed foods.

Listeria infection is commonly transmitted to humans by eating contaminated food. The bug has been found in a variety of foods at all stages of preparation, from raw to well-cooked leftovers. Listeria can also grow on food stored in a fridge.

The symptoms may be general, such as fever, headache, tiredness, aches and pains, which may be accompanied by runny poos (diarrhoea), feeling sick (nausea) and stomach cramps.

On average, symptoms appear after about 3 weeks but may appear as late as 2 months after you have eaten something with listeria. Many pregnant women do not have any symptoms. Even if you do not feel sick, you can pass the infection to your baby. 

Pregnant women are 10–20 times more likely to get listeria infection than the general population. Even a mild infection in a pregnant woman can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth or a baby who is very ill when born. 

Listeria can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or birth. Newborn babies infected with listeria may show signs of infection at birth or during the first few days of life. 

Infection in newborn babies can be very severe and can include lung infection (pneumonia) and meningitis. Infected babies may have severe difficulty with breathing and feeding.

If you think you have eaten food contaminated with listeria or if you have any of the symptoms of listeria infection, contact your doctor or midwife right away. Remember that it can take 2 months for symptoms to appear.

Your doctor may ask for a blood test to see whether you have listeria infection. You may need to take antibiotics to treat the infection and prevent your baby from becoming infected.

Foods that are contaminated with listeria don't look, smell or taste off. Cooking and pasteurisation are the only ways to kill listeria. Listeria will continue to grow in foods in the fridge.

The best way to avoid listeria infection is to avoid high-risk foods and always handle food safely.

High-risk foods that should be avoided

While food safety procedures aim to prevent listeria getting into the foods we eat, there are some foods that are more likely to be contaminated and pregnant women should not eat them.

Avoid all raw and under-cooked seafood, eggs, meat, and poultry while you are pregnant. Do not eat sushi made with raw fish (cooked sushi is safe). Cooking and pasteurisation are the only ways to kill listeria.

Foods that are safe to eat

• Most foods that have been thoroughly cooked (until piping hot) and eaten straight away.
• Vegetables and fruit that have been well washed.
• All tinned foods.
• Breads and cereals (without added mock creams or custards).
• Dried food (fruit, nuts, lentils, beans etc).
• Pasteurised milk and milk products, such as yoghurt, cheese etc.

Safe ways to handle food at home

Safe food handling and safe storage of food is important for everyone.

• Wash your hands before preparing food and between handling raw food and ready-to-eat foods.
• Wash raw fruit and vegetables well before eating.
• Cook all foods of animal origin, including eggs, thoroughly.
• Cook leftover foods or ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs, until steaming hot before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables, cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Uncooked meats should also be well wrapped or covered.
• Wash hands, knives and cutting boards thoroughly with hot water and soap after handling uncooked foods.
• Take special care when using a microwave to heat food all the way through until it is piping hot.