Heat Your Cold Cuts If You’re Over 50.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending that anyone over the age of 50 heat cold cuts and other processed meats thoroughly before eating to avoid deadly listeria. 

Eighty-five percent of all listeria cases are caused by cold meats and 1-in-5 infected people die. 

Folks over 50 are at a much higher risk of being affected by listeria, a bacteria mostly found on cold meat that has been exposed to open air. Listeria is different from other foodborne bacteria because cells continue to grow on the meat even in extremely cold temperatures. This tricks many people who believe that just keeping their meat in the fridge means keeping it safe.

The CDC, and meat industry lobbying firm American Meat Institute, both warn that people over 50, those with compromised immune systems, and women who are pregnant need to heat hot dogs, cold cuts, and deli meats to at least 165 degrees before eating just to be safe. 

Cold meats: if the listeria doesn’t kill you, the sodium might.