Two weeks ago hot dogs and deli meats from Thorn Apple Valley and Bil Mar foods were recalled. This past week milk products produced at a White Bear Lake plant were recalled. The bacterium associated with both of these recalls is the same Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeriosis is the infection caused by eating or drinking a product contaminated with Listeria.
It is a serious, potentially life-threatening disease. Pregnant women and newborns are especially at risk about 10 to 20 percent of all Listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy. The elderly and persons with diabetes, kidney disease, weakened immune systems, including those with AIDS or cancer that are undergoing chemo-therapy are also at increased risk. Here are some of the most-asked consumer questions asked about these recalls and Listeria. Brand names include Becker s, Dairy Fresh, Kemps, Oak Grove, Land O Lakes, Hardees, Mueller Pinhursk, Roundy s, Perkins and Wendy s.