Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeriosis is recognized as an important public health problem in the United States.
Listeriosis affects primarily pregnant women, their fetuses, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems.
Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking, but, in certain ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking by the manufacture but before packaging.
Listeria monocytogenes can survive at refrigerated temperatures.
