Bill Marler, writing for his Marler Blog, recently did a good wrapup on "Listeria in the News." You might have seenn it there, if not we are providing it here.
Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) is a foodborne disease-causing bacteria; the disease is called
listeriosis. Listeria can invade the body through a normal and intact gastrointestinal tract.
The Vermont Legislature has opted NOT to expand the sale of raw milk by its loud and active small dairy farmers. Had the dairy farmers expressed just a tad bit more concern for the harm raw milk might do to consumers, they might have done better with lawmakers. Take for example this quote from Amy
New Zealand’s north island has been experiencing some listeria contamination and it has recieved some interesting comment down under. Chris Barton, feature writer for nzheard, raises some pointed questions. Here’s some of what he says:
"Officials charged with overseeing public health and ensuring the safety of our food have some explaining to do over their
Earlier this month, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration published a "guidance document" in the federal register. The purpose is to provide "guidance for industry control of Listeria monocytogenes in refrigerated or frozen ready-to-eat foods.
The "guidance document" is intented as non-binding and for the purpose of generating comments.
So far, we know the American
Another 1,300 children have fallen victims to something consumed at school. This time the product was milk containing Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Children drinking the contaminated milk were attending Kindergartens in Bulgaria.
The Sofia News Agency reports that:
About 1300 children
from Bulgaria’s southern municipalities of Dupnitza, Rila, and Kocherinovo will be examined for the dangerous
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is out with a warning to consumers about 
bratwurst made by J&B Meats. MDA officials says consumers should avoid both the smoked pork and beef bratwurst made by the Barnesville, MN meat company.
MDA officials say the bratwurst may be contaminated with listeria bacteria. They say the problem was
As a dairy farmer and milk processor, the century old Whittier Farms was unique in Massachusetts. The decision announced by Wayne Whittier that the family-owned corporation would not re-open its processing plant comes as no surprise to the hard pressed Massachusetts dairy farm industry.
A half century ago, there were about 5,000 diary farms in
Mark Pratt at the Boston bureau of the Associated Press is reporting that state officials have found the same strain of listeria inside the Whittier Farms Dairy processing plant that was responsible for three deaths and a miscarriage.
The AP says the investigation now has to figure out exactly how the milk came into contact
Linda Bock at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette News yesterday (Jan. 9) wrote what might end up being the definitive wrap up piece on the Whittier Farms listeriosis outbreak.
With three elderly dead and one pregnant woman suffering a miscarriage, Bock reports that health officials cannot say the outbreak is over. That’s because listeria has
Stephen Smith at the Boston Globe tonight is reporting there has been a third death from the contaminated milk produced at Whittier Farms in Central Massachusetts.
Dead is an 87-year old Norfolk County man. State health officials are declining to give out the man’s name. He died in the hospital, where he had been sent
listeriosis. Listeria can invade the body through a normal and intact gastrointestinal tract. 
"Officials charged with overseeing public health and ensuring the safety of our food have some explaining to do over their 
from Bulgaria’s southern municipalities of Dupnitza, Rila, and Kocherinovo will be examined for the dangerous