Those perfectly sealed shiny packs of sliced cheese, raw meat, and deli cold cuts won't seem so perfect after you hear this: The packaging could be responsible for a deadly type of food poisoning.
Vacuum-packed foods are deprived of oxygen to keep them fresh and boost their shelf life, but according to new research, the lack of oxygen is what this bacteria, known as Listeria monocytogenes, loves most. Listeria monocytogenes a super-bacteria of sorts can even grow in the cold temperatures found in refrigerators.
This oxygen-deprived Listeria gets 100 times stronger compared to when it does have oxygen. It makes sense since this bacteria likes to live inside your gut, which has no oxygen. The worst part is that this stronger form of Listeria is responsible for killing 25% of the people it infects.
Food microbiologists say that NOT vacuum-packing foods could lead to other problems, so they're not planning on having us ditch these shiny packages any time soon. Although they are definitely going to have to think of a new method to seal our food in a safer way.
Fit's Tips: If you don't want to avoid all food found in this type of packaging including raw meats, raw veggies, raw and cooked poultry, raw and smoked fish and soft cheeses like Brie and feta, make sure these foods are cooked thoroughly before you eat them.