ATLANTA, GA.-The recent listeria outbreak linked to deli meat has highlighted food safety regulations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, ten people have died from the listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats so far and at least 59 people have been sickened.
The United States has a zero tolerance testing system for listeria and after the recent outbreak Congress sent a letter to the Department of Agriculture voicing its concerns about why the outbreak wasn’t prevented.
According to Jovana Kovacevic with the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center, listeria is present in the natural environment and the current zero tolerance policy may do more harm than one that tested for levels of different bacteria instead.
“It would encourage the industry to sample more and once they find positives, it would help them act before the food becomes contaminated and before any contaminated food ends up in the commerce,” said Kovacevic.
Listeria is most harmful for pregnant women, older adults and those with compromised immune systems, according to the CDC.
