**Author details**

precautions during the handling of food in their households to prevent the growth and con-

**Vulnerable consumer group Reason for vulnerability Recommended preventive food hygiene measures**

• Wash and dry your hands before and after touching

• Refrigerator food contact surfaces should be clean and sanitized regularly, and operate below 5°C. • Kitchen utensils such as knives, cutting boards and graters must be washed before and after being used

• Minimally processed fruits and vegetables must be washed thoroughly in flowing water prior to

• Store raw meat separately from and below cooked and ready-to-eat food in the refrigerator. • Protein-rich foods containing meat, fish, chicken, egg, sprouts and dairy foods that have cooled to

• Protein-rich foods must be kept either hot (60°C or

room temperature must be discarded.

hotter) or cold (5°C or colder).

and preparing ready-to-eat food.

in preparing ready-to-eat foods.

consumption.

Continuous provision of food safety education to consumers through various channels such as social media increases consumer awareness of the need for safer food handling practices such as hand washing and safe storage of RTE food [60]. The food standard agency of the UK has identified and targeted consumers who are at risk of contracting listeriosis. Vulnerable people, many of whom live and obtain their food independently include those with various forms of cancer, diabetes, alcoholism and diseases of the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system (e.g., heart disease), digestive system (e.g., Crohn's disease) and musculoskeletal/connective tissue system (e.g., lupus) [61]. Even though most consumers of food sold by street vendors may not have confidence in the safety of RTE foods sold on the street, this often does not affect their preference for such foods because of their affordability, availability and convenience [28].

RTE foods have gained considerable popularity in many developing and developed countries because of their perceived better flavor, affordability and convenience. Consumers will continue to consume RTE foods despite their association with *L. monocytogenes* outbreaks. While

tamination of food by *L. monocytogenes* (**Table 3**).

**Table 3.** Listeria in food: Advice to people vulnerable to listeriosis [75].

Pregnant women Weak immune system due

People over the age of 65 Weak immune system due

system

to ageing

to disease

due to drugs

Unborn fetuses and newborn

78 Listeria Monocytogenes

People with diseases such as cancer, leukemia, AIDS, diabetes, or liver or kidney

People on drugs that can suppress the immune system such prednisone or cortisone

People undergoing organ

babies

disease

transplant

to hormonal changes

Undeveloped immune

Weak immune system due

Suppressed immune system

Suppressed immune system due to drug administration

**10. Consumer awareness of listeriosis**

**11. Conclusions**

Frederick Tawi Tabit Address all correspondence to: tabitft@uinisa.ac.za University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
