Home > Practice Areas > Foodborne Illness > Are You a Victim of Food Poisoning? > Listeria Monocytogenes
Listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by Listeria monocytogenes which is a bacterium found in soil and water. I can be found in a variety of raw foods as well as in processed foods and foods made from unpasteurized milk. Unlike many other germs, it can grow in the cold temperature of a refrigerator.
Symptoms of Listeriosis can include fever and chills, headache, upset stomach, and vomiting. It is most likely to affect pregnant women and unborn babies, older adults, and people with weak immune systems. To prevent Listeria, pregnant women and others at risk should not eat certain foods, such as soft cheeses, refrigerated, smoked seafood right out of the package, refrigerated pates or meat spreads, raw (unpasteurized) milks or foods that contain raw milk.