As yet, there have been no illnesses linked with this listeria ice cream case. But it’s important to know that listeria can spread very easily. If you purchased one of these ice cream products and opened it, be sure to carry out a deep clean on any surface or ingredient that came into contact with the product. The CDC has compiled an informative five-step guide to help you properly deep clean your kitchen. Just be sure to have sealed bags, warm soapy water, clean towels, and bleach on hand. It’s worth following these steps to keep your household clean and listeria-free if you interacted with one of the affected products.
The good news is that listeriosis is usually mild in wide swaths of people. Symptoms can be quite similar to those of food poisoning, so fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea can set in within days of eating the affected food, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some instances, symptoms can develop a little later, even up to four weeks after eating the contaminated food. However, symptoms can be severe in more vulnerable groups, including pregnant people, infants, adults over the age of 65, and immunocompromised people. These individuals are at a far higher risk for a more aggressive type of listeriosis, which can advance from the digestive system and spread to other parts of the body, including the bloodstream or joints. This can then progress into further illnesses, severe complications, and even death, which is why it’s so important to seek medical treatment immediately if possible after experiencing persistent or severe symptoms in this realm.
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