Pregnant women advised to avoid pre-packed salads

Pregnant women have been urged to avoid pre-packed salads and coleslaws, as well as soft cheeses and pates, to cut down their risk of infection by the bacterium listeria.

During 2007, nine cases of pregnancy associated listeria were reported in Ireland, five of them among women for whom English was not their first language.

Listeria is found in many foods and infection in healthy adults usually produces no, or only very mild flu-like, symptoms.

However, in certain people including unborn babies, people with weakened immune systems and elderly people, it can cause very severe illness, or even death.

"The greatest danger is to unborn babies," said Dr Thomas Quigley from Safefood. "Listeriosis is most often associated with ready-to-eat, refrigerated and processed foods, such as pre-prepared cooked and chilled meals, soft cheeses, cold cuts of meat, pâtés and smoked fish."

Bags of salad leaves can potentially become safe once washed properly but experts suggest it is best to avoid any pre-packed salads and salad leaves.

Safefood has produced a booklet called 'Listeria and Pregnancy' in a number of different languages with information and advice on how pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies throughout the pregnancy.

Copies are available from safefood by 1850 40 4567 or from www.safefood.eu.