New Zealand Food Safety is sharing some simple guidance to prevent people getting a rare but life-threatening foodborne illness.
"Although listeriosis is rare in New Zealand, vulnerable people die of this preventable disease every year, so we want to share some practical steps people can take at home to avoid getting sick," says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
Listeriosis is caused by eating or drinking food that has high levels of Listeria, a bacterium that is widespread in the environment. Listeria is invisible, has no odour and, unlike most bacteria, can continue to grow when food is refrigerated.
"The most recent Annual report concerning Foodborne Diseases in New Zealand shows that there was a single death from listeria in 2024, down from 6 in 2022 and 7 in 2023.
Annual report concerning Foodborne Diseases in New Zealand [PDF, 2.6 MB]
"But even one death is one too many, so that’s why we are continuing our efforts to get those most at risk – pregnant women and older people – to better understand the dangers of listeriosis and what to do to decrease them."
Infections in healthy adults are unlikely to be severe, but listeriosis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature labour, stillbirth, or disease in the newborn baby.
As you age – and particularly over 65 – your immune system gets weaker. This means foods you safely ate in the past may no longer be safe for you to eat.
"Some people may not be aware of this. So, we’re highlighting higher-risk foods while sharing some food-safety advice on how to make them safe to eat," says Mr Arbuckle.
Higher-risk foods include:
- ready-to-eat meat products (like deli meats and pâtés)
- smoked seafood (especially cold smoked fish)
- soft cheeses (like brie, camembert, and paneer)
- unpasteurised dairy products (like raw milk and cheese)
- leafy greens and bagged salad (like mesclun and spinach).
For a fuller list see our webpage:
Listeria infection: symptoms and advice
To lower the risk of getting listeriosis, you can:
- choose safer foods
- heat food to piping hot (over 75°C) before eating
- when eating raw fruit and vegetables, wash and dry thoroughly first
- only eat food that was recently prepared
- refrigerate leftovers quickly and avoid eating leftovers that won’t be reheated
- wash and dry your hands thoroughly and follow good food hygiene practices.
"New Zealand Food Safety requires food businesses to manage Listeria in the processing environment and to have strict measures in place to eliminate its presence in products," says Mr Arbuckle.
“If something goes wrong, we support food businesses with their consumer-level food recalls. In 2024, there were 4 consumer recalls due to the possible presence of Listeria.
"But there’s also something you can do to protect yourself and others. If you make or buy food for vulnerable people, or are vulnerable yourself, please sign up to our food recall alerts.
"Also look out for our current awareness campaign so you can share it with people who may not know the life-threatening risks. Let’s work together to not lose another person to listeriosis."
Find out more
Food safety advice for over-65s
