Listen: AgriFocus - everything you need to know about listeria
What exactly is listeria and why have there been food recalls in recent weeks?
On this episode of the AgriFocus podcast, in association with Axa Insurance, Agriland editor, Stella Meehan, is joined by Professor Achim Schmalenberger, senior lecturer and course director in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Limerick to discuss listeria.
In recent weeks there have been a number of food recalls associated with listeria monocytogenes which is usually acquired by eating contaminated food.
Professor Schmalenberger outlines in the podcast that Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacterium listeria monocytogenes and that the listeria bacteria, that can cause illness, is killed by cooking food thoroughly.
A National Outbreak Control Team is currently investigating an extensive outbreak of listeriosis and while the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is urging people to be aware of the risks, and to take precautions when using ready-to-eat foods, it has said "they can be assured that there is a robust food control system in place in Ireland".
