Risk Factors Associated with Listeriosis, older adults fail to adhere to recommendations.

Forty-one percent of foods in home refrigerators were beyond the use-by date, temperature was also higher than the limit.

Increased Listeria monocytogenes incidence among older adults ($60 years) has been reported internationally, with many cases reported to be sporadic and associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) food products with extended refrigerated shelf life.

Given that the home kitchen is recognized as a significant location where foodborne illnesses are acquired, it is important that consumers implement safe food practices to minimize risks. This is crucial for vulnerable consumers, such as older adults.

Consumer food safety recommendations in the United Kingdom to reduce the risk of listeriosis at home include (i) following ‘‘use-by’’ dates on unopened pre-packed RTE food products, (ii) consuming RTE food products within 2 days of opening, and (iii) ensuring the safe operating temperatures of domestic refrigerators (#5uC). This study utilized observation, self-reporting, and microbiological analysis to determine actual food storage practices to identify behavioral risk factors.

A domestic kitchen survey was conducted in older adult ($60 years) consumers’ domestic kitchens (n ~ 100) in South Wales, United Kingdom. Forty-one percent of foods in home refrigerators were beyond the use-by date, of which 11% were unopened RTE food products commonly associated with listeriosis.

Sixty-six percent of opened RTE foods had been or were intended to be stored beyond the recommended 2 days after opening. Older adults failed to ensure safe refrigeration temperatures, with 50% of central storage and 85% of door storage areas operating at temperatures .5ºC.

Older refrigerators operated at significantly (P 0.05) higher temperatures. Given that Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in 2% of kitchens, these findings suggest that storage malpractices may have a greater effect on the potential risk of listeriosis than its presence alone.

The study has determined that many older adults fail to adhere to recommendations and subject RTE foods associated with Listeria monocytogenes to prolonged storage at unsafe temperatures which may render food unsafe for consumption.

Source: Journal of Food Protection, Vol. 78, No. 4, 2015, Pages 738–745