What are the potential results of consuming food contaminated with listeria?

Consuming food contaminated with listeria can lead to serious health issues, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium responsible for listeriosis, can cause symptoms ranging from mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever and muscle aches, to more severe consequences like meningitis, septicemia, or miscarriage in pregnant women.

In these high-risk groups, the disease can result in hospitalization due to complications that arise from the infection, such as invasive listeriosis, where the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream or the central nervous system. The potential for severe outcomes emphasizes the seriousness of listeria contamination, making hospitalization a common result for those affected, especially when immediate medical intervention is required to manage the risks associated with the pathogen. Thus, this choice accurately reflects the severity of consequences from listeria contamination.