At npr.org, click on "Wampler Foods Recalls 27 Million Pounds of Poultry" to hear the report from "All Things Considered".

High points:

-Listeria is a very common bacterium, and people's reactions to it vary widely. Some people have a very high tolerance. Once listeria food poisoning develops, though, it has a comparatively high mortality rate.
-It can take weeks for a case of food poisoning to develop from this bacterium, so the source is often difficult to pinpoint.
-Most at risk are people with compromised immune systems. Pregnant women should be aware that their fetuses may be attacked as well.
-Listeria is not deterred by refrigeration, so it may actually grow on contaminated food surfaces kept under otherwise safe household conditions.
-You can kill it by cooking. So to be safe, recook your precooked meats.
-Food irradiation appears to be very effective also.

Thanks, Bowser, for bringing this up. It's a very serious threat, but easy to fight once one is aware of it.

Regards--
Mary Anne