Microbe Monthly - November 2011

About 800 laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis are reported each year in the United States and usually 3 or 4 outbreaks are identified. The foods that typically cause these outbreaks have been deli meats, hot dogs, and Mexican-style soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Produce is not often identified as a source, but sprouts caused an outbreak in 2009 and celery caused an outbreak in 2010.