how would you know if you had listeria?

anyone know how you would know if you had listeria? I'm assuming you would get sick? I just found out that the trader joes parmesan/asiago blend cheese shavings we used a few times this week are made with "raw milk" and it doesn't explicitly say "pasteurized"

I ate a smallish amount on Sunday and Monday. I feel fine today and is kicking around in there. I'm assuming I'd know if I had listeria, right? Is this something I need to call my doctor about and ask? (and as a secondary matter, ugh! that cheese was good and we have more left in the fridge!)

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I'm almost positive it's similar to food poisoning. So if you had it you would be vomiting within an hour of eating it. I think you're okay, but if you're concerned it doesn't hurt to call the doctor!

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I just looked it up, fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. Link


"The incubation period (time between ingestion and the onset of symptoms) for Listeria ranges from three to 70 days and averages 21 days."

I'm sure you'll be fine but I didn't realize the symptoms take so long to manifest.

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I once asked my doctor about this during my first pregnancy because I ate something I thought was questionable after. I was told if it were a problem, I'd KNOW!!

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

It's only unpasturized SOFT cheese that is a potential issue. Parm/asiago are hard cheeses. I think parm is almost always unpasturized.

So no worries

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

Posted by checka

I just looked it up, fever, muscle aches and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. Link


"The incubation period (time between ingestion and the onset of symptoms) for Listeria ranges from three to 70 days and averages 21 days."

I'm sure you'll be fine but I didn't realize the symptoms take so long to manifest.

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

Raw milk = unpasteurized, by definition (just for future reference)

I'm sure worrying about it is worse for you than just moving forward without worrying about it.

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

But the milk would have HAD to have been infected with the listeria bacteria. How do you know if it was? I am sure it wasnt. Just because you drink raw milk, or eat soft cheese, means you will get sick.

Again, the runny eggs you may enjoy, does not MEAN you are going to GET salmonella. Eating cold cults COLD will
NOT give you listeriosis! The cold cuts must have the listeria bacteria on them first, which is also unlikely. It MUST be infected with the bacteria first. Not everything is an automatic death sentence! you will be fine!!!!

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I'm sure your fine but here is a link to the FDA's site about it in pregnant women

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I know Listeria is a big fear on LIF, but it is very rare. 2,500 people in the US contract Listeria each year. Total. Out of the population of America! Out of that 2500 people about 833 of the people who contract Listeria are pregnant.

This is such a small number that the percentage of people who contract Listeria is .001%!!!!!

In Europe, where there aren't these crazy restrictions on what pregnant women eat the numbers are even less, and Listeria is under the "rarer disease" category.

I am sure you are fine!

how would you know if you had listeria?

If you feel fine, and it's only the fact that you ate cheese with war milk made you think that you have a listeria, I guess there is nothing to be worry about. If you have any of symptoms like muscle aches, fever, diarrea etc (check this website to see the full list of lysteria symptoms), then probably you should have your blood tested to confirm the diagnosis.

Message edited 2/26/2013 6:49:09 PM.

Re: how would you know if you had listeria?

I think if it had listeria and people became infected then it would be announced on the news or something.