9 Foods Most Likely To Have Listeria, So You Can Keep Your Kitchen Safe

Listeria is no joking matter. With news of recalls due to the bacteria continually being released, it's normal to worry about the food you buy for you and your family. Luckily, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does a great job when it comes to keeping up to date with foods most likely to be contaminated with Listeria.

In case you're not sure what Listeria is, besides from being a disgusting sounding word, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria is a serious infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms include things like head ache, muscle stiffness, fever and loss of balance. However, in pregnant women and children, the consequences are far more serious and can lead to still birth or even death in certain cases, according to Healthy Children.org.

While that sentence alone is enough to send most people into a panic, if you're up to date on the most recently recalled foods, you have nothing to worry about. If any of these next nine foods (the most recent recalls by the FDA) have found their way into your pantry, simply throw them out. If you're genuinely worried or you or your child has exhibited any of the above symptoms after consuming a recalled product, be sure to see your doctor immediately. But thanks to this list, and the preventative measures taken by the FDA, your mind can rest at ease.

3Sally Sherman Fresh Chicken Salad Products

In February, Sally Sherman Foods out of Mount Vernon NY, recalled 3,004 pounds of various products that were thought to be contaminated. Among them were the Spa Chicken Salad, Chicken Salad All White Meat, and Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad.

4Starbucks' Sausage Egg And Cheese Muffin

In early March, Progressive Gourmet Inc. recalled their sausage egg and cheese biscuits— which they provide to Starbucks. Specifically stores in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma with packages dated "Best Before: 07-AUG-2016".

5Maytag Blue Cheese

Maytag has voluntarily recalled their blue cheese with the product label UPC 0085408900104 or UPC 0021806200000. This recall affects 17 stores in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa and can be found at Maytag Dairy Farms, HyVee stores, Whole Foods and Schnuck Markets.

7Bi-Lo Cantaloupe

8Mitica Pecorino Aged Cheese

Forever Cheese Inc. out of Long Island, New York has recalled their Mitica brand Pecorino Aged Cheese in certain stores in the states of California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Colorado, Vermont, Virginia, Florida, and Connecticut.