CDC: cold cuts should be served hot
Sandwich meat should be cooked before eaten because it can otherwise put people at risk for Listeria.
Indianapolis - At Broad Ripple Bagel Deli, steamed sandwiches are standard. Cold cuts are served hot, as they should be according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The health agency recently issued a warning specifically for pregnant women and people ages 50 and up. They said sandwich meat should be cooked before eaten because it can otherwise put people at risk for Listeria.
"A rare but potentially serious or even fatal infection, particularly in those people who have weakened immune systems," said epidemiologist Pam Pontones of the Indiana Department of Health. "It is particularly important for pregnant women to be sure to eat safe foods because listeriosis can be extremely harmful to a developing baby."
Listeria bacteria grows in cold conditions like the refrigerator which is why deli meat can pose a danger. Cooking lunch meat has been the recommendation for 11 years but the CDC says few folks are following.
"No, I don't heat it up," said Indianapolis resident Charline Parrott.
Parrott's sentiment was common amongst the customers we spoke with at Broad Ripple Bagel Deli.
So, how long should you heat lunch meat to be safe? Health leaders say to throw it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. The goal is for it to be steaming hot; about 165 degrees.
While it may seem unusual to cook cold cuts, health leaders say steamed sandwiches are safest.
