1. Listeria monocytogenes - killer germ in food?
To answer the question: “L mono – killer germ in food?” To answer, let's first take a look at the press. We're going on a trip to Switzerland. The cases of listeriosis increased there in 2018 and 2020. Here is a report by Swiss television from 2018.
To return to the training, please use your browser's back button.
In 2018, it could not be clarified which food caused the diseases. The authorities explain:
It is only relatively rarely that a connection can be established between the food consumed and the sick.
Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office
2020: The culprit has been found
The culprit was found in May 2020: a cheese dairy whose Brie was contaminated with L. mono.
The consequences are fatal:
- Recall of all cheese products. the Cheese factory closes.
- The company management is accused: Suspected of multiple manslaughter, bodily harm and violation of the food law.
- Total will 34 illnesses, including 10 deaths, attributed to the eruption. Also one pregnant women was affected.
L. mono is a germ that has caused many outbreaks. These often go undetected for years. More information and outbreak examples can be found here:
- Robert Koch Institute (RKI): Information on listeriosis in Germany, e.g. smoked and pickled salmon as a cause of outbreaks (2021): https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/L/Listeriose/Listeriose_node.html
- Center of Disease Control – Emerging Infectious Diseases journal July 2020: Information on outbreaks around the world, e.g. due to blood sausage in Germany (2018-2019): https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/articles/issue/26/7/table-of-contents
“We remember: L. mono is a germ that often goes unnoticed for years. During this long time, eruptions can occur repeatedly. The diseases are often severe, sometimes fatal.”
dr Andrea Dreusch
EN 
DE 
AR 
BG 
CS 
FR 
EL 
HU 
IT 
PL 
RO 
RU 
ES 
TR 
UK 
VI