date:May 14, 2013
otential to spread due to cross contamination. This assessment highlights the importance of our work to prevent Lm from entering the retail environment in the first place, and provides a significant tool towards this effort to protect consumers and prevent foodborne illness, USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said in a statement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria causes 1,600 illnesses, 1,500 hospitalizations and 260 deaths each year.