Food served at a September 7 picnic at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol, RI may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to he Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH). No illnesses have been reported.
On the same day as the cookout, the dietary supervisor for the Veterans Home received an email from U.S. Foods saying one lot of onions from one of their suppliers tested positive for Listeria during routine testing by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On Sept. 6, the Veterans Home received three cases of diced onions from the potentially contaminated lot.
The cookout was for Veterans Home residents, staff, volunteers, family and friends. HEALTH is continuing to monitor the situation.
Listeria can cause severe illness and death. Symptoms of a Listeria infection, called listeriosis, include high fever, severe headache, stiffness and muscle aches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Pregnant women, young children and seniors are most at risk. It can take up to 70days after exposure for symptoms of a Listeria infection to set in. Anyone who ate these onions and experiences these symptoms within the next 70 days should contact their healthcare provider.
