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# Basics About Listeria
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/listeria_2112101011/
- Published: 2010-12-20T23:10:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:03:38.000Z
- Description: A primer on Listeria: it grows even at refrigerator temperatures and turns up in soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk, deli meats and hot dogs. Pregnant women are 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to be infected, and prompt antibiotics can often protect the fetus.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Biological, Food Safety, Listeria, #vivvo-import

*Listeria* is the name of a bacteria found in soil and water. It can be in a variety of raw foods as well as in processed foods and foods made from unpasteurized milk. *Listeria*is unlike many other germs because it can grow even in the cold temperature of the refrigerator.

Listeria is especially harmful to pregnant women, who are 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get the infection.

| **Sources**             | Fresh soft cheeses, unpasteurized or inadequately pasteurized milk, ready-to-eat deli meats, hot dogs.                                                                                                                                                          |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Incubation Period**   | 9-48 hours                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| **Symptoms**            | Fever, muscle aches, and nausea or diarrhea. Pregnant women may have mild flu-like illness, and infection can lead to premature delivery or stillbirth.                                                                                                         |
| **Duration of Illness** | Variable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| **What Do I Do?**       | If you have symptoms such as fever or stiff neck, consult your doctor. A blood will show if you have listeriosis. When infection occurs during pregnancy, antibiotics given promptly to the pregnant woman can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. |

from foodsafety.gov