Listeriosis: What to pack in your child's lunch box

Moms across South Africa are in panic mode after Health Minister Aaron confirmed the source of the deadly food-borne disease, Listeriosis. 

The minister revealed that polony - a popular read-to-eat meat for school lunches - was positively identified as containing the bacteria. 

Processed meat products such as frankfurters, russians, viennas, and other read-to-eat ‘cold meat’ products were also listed as foods to avoid. 

"Any human being in the country who has these products in their fridge must take them out immediately,” the minister advised.

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An Enteprise factory in Polokwane was revealed as the source of the outbreak after nine children from a crèche were admitted to hospital with febrile gastro-enteritis. 

Health officials visited the crèche and took samples from two separate polony brands (Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken Limited). Rainbow Chicken has also recalled its polony loaves. 

While polony and cold meats have been linked to the listeriosis outbreak, there are other foods that infants, the elderly, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems are advised to avoid. 

These include food products made with raw/unpasteurised milk, processed meats, raw vegetables,  and soft cheeses. 

ALSO READ: How to keep listeria out of your kitchen

Now that lunch-time-favourite polony and other cold meats have been identified as definite risks, what are your children supposed to eat for lunch?

Here are a few recipes you can try to put your mind at ease. 

Grilled peanut butter sandwich

Put a twist on the classic peanut butter sandwich by ditching the sweet jam and adding bananas instead. You can also grill the sandwich. Wait for the sandwich to cool down a bit and then pack it in a thermos to keep it warm until lunch time. 

Avocado wrap

If your kids love avocado then this avocado and egg wrap will put a smile on their face. Make sure your eggs are not runny and cooked through. 

Vegan burger

If you want your kids to enjoy a meat-free, and dairy-free lunch then this vegan burger recipe will be a hit.

Food Focus, which focuses on compliance issues in the local food industry,  says the following foods also present a listeriosis risk (especially for the high-risk groups):

1. Eggs
2. Cream/ ice-cream
3. Fruit
4. Root vegetables
5. Cured/smoked seafood
6. Chicken/poultry
7. Meat spreads
8. Ready-to-eat meals and salads
9. Sandwich spreads/dip
10. Mayonnaise 
11. Yogurt, buttermilk, amasi
12. Soft cheeses (cream cheese) 

A December report by Huffington Post SA said there is no need to avoid any foods (other than the ones health officials have now identified such as polony and foods listed for high-risk groups), as good hygiene is one of the main preventative measures.

Raw vegetables should be washed properly before cooking and raw foods from animal products (beef, poultry, pork) should also be thoroughly cooked as the bacteria is killed by heating. 

Don't forget to wash your hands and cooking utensils before and after handling uncooked foods.  

Foodsafety.gov also recommends you "keep uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood separate from vegetables, fruits, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods". 

A World Health Organisation official says "listeria thrives in temperatures of between 5⁰C and 60⁰C" and recommends raw vegetables are stored at the bottom of your fridge, while cooked foods should be kept in higher compartments.

According to eNCA, fridge temperatures should be set below 4⁰C. Your freezer should be set below -18⁰C.

ALSO READ: INFOGRAPHIC: The latest on food-borne disease, Listeriosis