Mums-to-be are being urged to be extra vigilant about eating pre-packed foods including salads, cooked and chilled meats and patés which may put them at risk of listeriosis.

Listeria is a bacterium found in many types of food and while it usually doesn't produce any symptoms in healthy adults, it can be of danger to the unborn baby.

The warning from safefood and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) follows the publication of new figures which revealed during 2007, nine cases of pregnancy associated Listeria were reported in Ireland, five of these were among women for whom English was not their first language.

According to Dr Thomas Quigley, Director, Science and Technical at safefood, "Infection in healthy adults usually produces no symptoms, or a mild flu-like illness. However, in certain people including unborn babies, people with weakened immune systems and elderly people, it can cause very severe illness, or even death."

Dr Paul McKeown of the HPSC added, "Pregnancy is a time when expectant mothers take a lot of care with many aspects of their lives. Simple measures such as ensuring that the fridge is in good working order with the temperature between 2-5 degrees Celsius, eating food that is well within its use-by date, so that harmful bugs will not have had time to grow and practising good general food hygiene will reduce the risk of listeriosis."

He advised that all women who are pregnant, or who are thinking of becoming pregnant should avoid these high risk foods, such as soft cheeses, pâté and pre-packed salads and coleslaws, until they have given birth.

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