The North Carolina Division of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have listed the following guidelines for pregnant women and other people with a high risk of listeriosis:

• Thoroughly cook raw beef, pork or poultry.
• Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats or deli meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
• Avoid soft cheeses such as feta, Brie and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pasteurized milk.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Do not eat refrigerated pates or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pates and meat spreads may be eaten.
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked" or "jerky." Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.
• Wash hands, knives and cutting boards after handling uncooked foods.