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Top 6 food items linked to listeria risk, according to Consumer Reports
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List slides Top 6 food items linked to listeria risk, according to Consumer Reports List slides Previous Start over By Colleen Cabili · Updated August 20, 2026 Add QZ to Google Listeria is a bacteria that poses a much greater danger to pregnant people than to the general population. Pregnancy hormones weaken the immune system's ability to fight the infection, and unlike more common foodborne bacteria, listeria can cross the placental barrier that's meant to protect a developing baby. Consumer Reports outlined six food categories linked to listeria contamination and spoke with food safety experts about how to reduce exposure, so pregnant people can make safer choices at the grocery store and in the kitchen.
Deli meat, prepared deli salads and hot dogs pose a listeria risk because the slicers, knives and cutting boards used to prepare them after cooking can harbor the bacteria. Consumer Reports cited a study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology in December 2022, which identified deli meats as the top contributor to U.S. listeriosis infections over the preceding five years. CR's food safety experts recommended skipping these foods altogether during pregnancy. Testers said anyone who does eat them should heat the food to 165 degrees Fahrenheit first, the exact temperature that eliminates listeria bacteria.
Raw spinach and other leafy greens ranked as the second most commonly listeria-contaminated food in the same International Journal of Food Microbiology study. Consumer Reports found listeria can contaminate the water used to irrigate crops on a farm, or spread to plants when wild or farm animals come into contact with them. CR's food safety experts said leafy greens are too nutrient-dense to avoid altogether during pregnancy. Testers recommended sticking with greens such as spinach, kale or collard greens, since cooking them eliminates the risk.
Soft cheeses made with unpasteurized, raw milk carry a listeria risk that food safety experts say tops the rest of the category. Consumer Reports named Brie, Camembert, queso fresco, queso blanco, queso blando, queso ranchero and cuajada en terrón as examples worth checking closely on the label. CR found soft cheeses tend to hold more moisture and less acidity than harder varieties, conditions that let listeria multiply. Testers noted even pasteurized soft cheese isn't automatically safe, pointing to a 2024 listeria outbreak tied to pasteurized queso fresco, cotija and Oaxaca cheese that sickened 26 people, hospitalized 23 and caused two deaths.
Shelf-stable meat spreads and pâté sold in cans, jars or sealed pouches carry less listeria risk than their refrigerated counterparts. Consumer Reports found those shelf-stable versions go through a heating process that eliminates germs before being sealed airtight, according to the CDC. CR's food safety experts recommended skipping refrigerated versions during pregnancy or switching to a shelf-stable product instead. Testers said any shelf-stable meat spread or pâté still needs to be refrigerated once it's been opened.
Raw and smoked seafood, including sushi, sashimi, raw shellfish, ceviche and fish labeled nova-style, lox, kippered, smoked or jerky, skip the heat treatment that would otherwise kill listeria. Consumer Reports found none of these preparation methods heat the fish enough to eliminate the bacteria. CR's food safety experts said this category should be avoided during pregnancy regardless of how fresh or high-quality the seafood is. Testers noted fully cooked seafood, heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, doesn't carry the same risk.
Alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts grow in the same moist, warm conditions that let listeria and other bacteria thrive. Consumer Reports quoted a CDC food safety expert explaining that sprouting requires the same environment bacteria need to multiply. CR's food safety experts said this makes raw sprouts one of the riskier options among the foods covered here. Testers recommended heating sprouts until they're steaming throughout if someone chooses to eat them, since that kills any listeria present.
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