Lethal weapons: Your arsenal against listeria

摘要

There is no magic method to control listeria yet, but researchers and processors are employing a range of different technologies to kill listeria cells in ready-to-eat products. According to legend, a silver bullet can kill a werewolf and a wooden stake through the heart can destroy a vampire, but those are mythical monsters and not so difficult to exterminate. Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic monster that has relatively high tolerance to heat and salt, grows even under refrigerated conditions, and forms biofilms on all kinds of surfaces. These characteristics, coupled with its ubiquitous nature and pathogenicity, have made L. monocytogenes the organism Public Enemy Number One for producers of ready-to-eat (RTE) poultry products.