Listeria is a harmful bacteria. Listeria thrives in ready-to-eat foods that have already been cooked when purchased.
Listeria monocytogenes (listeria) is a bacterium that causes an illness called Listeriosis. Cases of foodborne illness from listeria are rare, but can involve serious symptoms and even death in certain groups of people. These include:
- people with weakened immune systems, such as those suffering from cancer
- pregnant women and their unborn babies
- newborn babies
- elderly people
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