Listeria is still

alarming

, after the frankfurter case: this time some packs of

salmon and mayonnaise sandwiches

from the “Allegri Sapori” brand are targeted.

The company, according to the website of the Ministry of Health, has ordered the recall from the market of lots of product no.

22952 1 and 22952 2, indicating the "presence of

Listeria monocytogenes

".

The recommendation to consumers is "not to consume the product, return it to the point of sale for a refund or replacement by next October 10".

Meanwhile, a case of listeria

meningitis

is suspected in the province of Alexandria, after the

death of an 83-year-old man

last week .

The daughter asked for a clinical study on the foods ingested by the victim: the father may have eaten raw sausages in the days preceding hospitalization.

Investigations are currently underway.

But the alarm related to the consumption of raw sausages would be related to 67 clinical cases of listeriosis and four deaths that occurred since last December in Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.

Listeria: what is it and where is the bacterium-killer found

Listeria monocytogenes

, which causes listeriosis, is a ubiquitous bacterium present in

soil

,

water

and

vegetation

and can contaminate

various foods

such as milk, vegetables, soft cheeses, undercooked meats, and slightly seasoned sausages.

The main route of transmission in humans is via food.

Healthy children and adults can be infected from time to time but they rarely develop a serious disease, unlike in

debilitated

,

immunosuppressed

people and in

pregnant women

, where the disease is more serious.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the infectious dose and on the health status of the subject that is contaminated.

They range from flu-like or gastrointestinal forms, sometimes accompanied by high fever, in the most at risk subjects, to

septicemic forms

,

meningitis

or

abortion

.

The bacterium resists low temperatures and drying in food stored at refrigeration temperature (4 ° C).

On the other hand, it is very sensitive to the domestic cooking temperatures of food.

Getty

Listeria monocytogenes

For this reason, the Ministry of Health invites to prevent the risk of contamination, paying attention to the correct methods of conservation, preparation and consumption of foods that could be the vehicle of Listeria.

In the case of frankfurters, in particular, the labels on the packages clearly illustrate how the product should be consumed, that is, after cooking.

The adoption of simple and quick hygiene rules when handling food, even at home, reduces the risk of contracting the disease.

The recommendations

Wash your hands often

, frequently clean all surfaces and materials that come into contact with food (utensils, small appliances, refrigerator, dishcloths and sponges);

keep raw, cooked and ready-to-eat foods

in the refrigerator separately and in closed containers;

cook food well

following the manufacturer's instructions on the label;

do not prepare foods

to be consumed after cooking too early (if not, keep them in the fridge and reheat them before consumption);

do not leave perishable foods at room temperature

and respect the storage temperature indicated on the label.