Warning over killer infection after 28 deaths in the UK – and the 5 foods you must avoid

HEALTH officials have sounded the alarm over a life-threatening infection in the UK.

New data from the UK Health Security (UKHSA) has revealed cases of listeriosis are at the highest level in eight years - with 179 cases reported in England and Wales in 2024, including 28 deaths.

2

2

The previous year, in 2023, saw 177 cases.

Listeriosis is a serious food borne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.

While most people who get it won't have any symptoms or will have mild gastroenteritis, the infection can prove deadly for certain high-risk groups.

In a post published on X, formerly Twitter, Vanessa Wong, UKHSA Consultant in gastrointestinal infections, said: "Listeriosis is a rare infection and most people only experience mild symptoms of gastroenteritis that usually pass within a few days without the need for treatment."

"However, severe listeriosis is more likely to affect the elderly, very young babies, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system.

"The best way to prevent listeriosis is to practise good food hygiene and avoid high-risk foods if you are in a vulnerable group."

The UKHSA lists five foods that carry a greater risk of listeria:

• Soft cheeses
• Pâté
• Smoked fish
• Chilled sliced meats
• Other chilled ready-to-eat products

The NHS says other foods at higher risk of listeria include pre-prepared sandwiches and salads, pre-cut fruit, and dairy products made from unpasteurised milk.

Although it does advise: "These foods do not always contain listeria. If you have eaten them recently, you do not need to do anything unless you get symptoms of the infection."

Earlier this year, officials revealed three people died in 2024 after eating desserts contaminated with listeria dished out in NHS hospitals.

There were seven listeriosis outbreaks investigated in England and Wales in 2024, according to the UKHSA.

National outbreaks were associated with smoked fish, chocolate and strawberry mousse, garlic sausage and pre-packed sandwiches.

Listeriosis can be deadly because it can cause severe complications like sepsis, meningitis, or encephalitis.

It can also lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth.

As well as avoiding foods that carry a greater risk of listeria, the NHS says it's also worth doing the following:

• keep chilled, ready-to-eat foods cold – try to make sure your fridge is working properly and is set to 5C or below
• eat ready-to-eat foods within four hours of taking them out of the fridge
• eat, cook or freeze foods by their use-by date
• follow storage instructions on food labels and use opened food within two days (unless the packaging says otherwise)
• keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate
• follow any cooking instructions on packaging, and cook or reheat (including frozen vegetables) until they're steaming hot right through
• wash your hands regularly with soap and water

If listeriosis is mild you'll usually get better in a few days - just make sure to rest and drink plenty of fluids.

If you're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill, you may need antibiotics.