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How common are Listeria outbreaks caused by sick food workers and what can be done about it?
It seems like every time you turn on the news or scroll through your news feed there is another Listeria outbreak. Whether it is from raw milk, deli meats, or some leafy vegetable, the news is everywhere.
But one of the lesser talked about problems involves Listeria outbreaks caused by sick food workers, and it happens more often than you think.
In fact, recent studies looking at historical data show that around 40% of outbreaks at retail food establishments could be traced back to a sick food worker. Many of those outbreaks involved the dangerous germ, Listeria monocytogenes. Or Listeria for short.
What can be done to reduce the incidence of Listeria outbreaks caused by food workers and reduce consumer risk? Turns out, there are some proven options. However unpopular they may be.
But first, what is Listeria?
Each year 1,600 people experience Listeria bacterial infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that around 260 people will die from Listeria infections each year.
Listeria can be especially dangerous for certain groups of the population. These people are more likely to become sick with Listeria infection if exposed and more likely to experience serious illness if infected.
Those at higher risk include:
Pregnant people and newborn babies are vulnerable to Listeria infections.
The CDC estimates that 1 in 25,000 pregnant people in the United States are infected with Listeria bacteria in the United States each year. While that number may not sound all that large, the impact of those sickened individuals is great.
Unfortunately, 1 in 4 pregnant people who get this illness will lose their pregnancy or their baby shortly after birth.
More than half of all Listeria infections in the United States occur among those aged 65 years and older.
Older bodies often produce less stomach acid, an important part of the immune system that can help kill germs as they enter the body.
An older person’s immune system may also have a harder time recognizing and eliminating harmful germs, giving them more time to reproduce in the body.
Hospitalization is almost always necessary in older adults. The CDC estimates that 1 in 6 older adults with Listeria infection will die from this illness.
Listeria bacterial infections affect the body in different ways depending on where the infection is in the body and whether or not the infected person is pregnant.
There are two types of Listeria illness symptoms. One is the more common intestinal illness. The other is the more serious invasive illness.
The most common form of Listeria infection is intestinal infection. This type of illness is limited to the digestive system.
Common symptoms involve vomiting and diarrhea often beginning within 24 hours of consuming contaminated food. This type of illness can last about 1 to 3 days.
Most people with intestinal Listeria infections do not need antibiotic treatment or medical intervention. Those in the higher risk group may need to see their healthcare provider.
While in the intestines, the bacteria can breach the capillaries in the intestinal wall. From there, they can enter other parts of the body. This is where intestinal infection transitions into invasive infection.
Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can affect other parts of the body. Invasive Listeria infections affect pregnant and non-pregnant people differently. However, both will likely experience symptoms about 2 weeks after consuming food contaminated with the germ.
Milder symptoms are generally experienced by pregnant people. Fever, fatigue, and muscle aches are common. The greater risk is associated with the unborn. Listeria infection during pregnancy may lead to still birth, premature delivery, miscarriage, or life-threatening infection in the newborn.
Invasive Listeria infection symptoms are more severe in those who are not pregnant.
Common symptoms include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions along with fever and muscle aches. This type of illness can be life-threatening. In fact, 1 in 20 non-pregnant people with invasive Listeria infections die from their illness.
Most people with invasive Listeria infections require medical treatment and hospitalization to recover.
A recent study gathered data from 5,760 foodborne illness outbreaks. Many were linked to food establishments.
This research found that 800 foodborne outbreaks across 875 food establishments were reported between the years 2017 and 2019.
The results were both startling, yet unsurprising.
“Approximately 40% of outbreaks with identified contributing factors had at least one reported factor associated with food contamination by an ill or infectious food worker.”
While it is common knowledge that sick people can make other people sick. The incidence involving illness spread at restaurants and other food establishments can make you want to eat at home every night.
While the bulk of these outbreaks involved norovirus (47.0%) and Salmonella (18.6%) germs, Listeria is still a commonly spread foodborne germ.
The research analyzed food establishments involved in these outbreaks and interviewed food establishment managers.
Policies preventing sick food workers from reporting to work or directly working with food are a part of state and local health department requirements across the country.
Interviewed managers were asked about those policies.
Most (91.7%) indicated that their establishment had policies in place requiring food workers to notify their manager when they were sick. Only 66% of those policies were written. An even smaller percentage indicated all five symptoms sick workers should report (vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever, and lesion with pus).
Most (85.5%) restricted sick employees from work. Only 62.4% of those policies were written.
If policies exist, then why are so many Listeria outbreaks caused by food workers reporting to work sick? And why would a sick food worker want to report to work?
There are lots of reasons why a sick food worker reports to work.
Several actions can be taken to help prevent Listeria outbreaks caused by food workers from happening.
When food workers feel comfortable reporting their illness, they are more likely to do so. Creating a safe culture that allows sick food workers to stay home while they are infectious helps prevent the spread of illness. Creating a “safety first” culture reinforces those goals.
Whether managers staff more employees than necessary, cross-train other staff, or implement an “on-call” schedule, providing coverage helps reduce the social burden food workers have of calling in sick.
The contract and/or part-time nature of food service jobs often leaves employees without paid sick time. This can create a financial burden when employees must stay home from work due to illness. This is one of the more common reasons sick food workers still report to work. Offering paid sick time can reduce those burdens and help reduce the spread of Listeria outbreaks caused by food workers.
If you have become sick from Listeria outbreaks caused by food workers and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help.
You need an experienced Listeria lawyer who has successfully represented people with cases just like yours. Call (833) 330-3663 or send an email for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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