This latest listeria outbreak has materialized just as the Clinton administration is preparing to unveil a long-awaited set of proposals designed to get meat processors to eliminate the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that cause a rare yet virulent form of food poisoning.
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.
Listeria monocytogenes Characteristics Primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, adults with weakened immune systems. We need a system that has stronger checks. Under the current regulatory system, meat companies aren't required to test their processing equipment and products for the presence of listeria. Many companies, including Cargill, do so voluntarily. But they aren't required to alert food-safety authorities about their listeria results.