The Reputation Drain: Listeria Lurks in Store Drains and can Damage Store Image ifnot Controlled Properly

摘要

In the United States, Listeria monocytogenes, or Listeria, causes about 2,500 illnesses a year, yet it results in more than 500 deaths - a 20 percent mortality rate. Compare that with Salmonella, which causes about 2 million illnesses a year but results in about the same number of deaths as Listeria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, Ga.) Although cases of Listeriosis, the serious illness caused by Listeria, are not reported as regularly as other foodborne illnesses, when someone does get ill from Listeria they have a, high chance of dying from the illness. An outbreak of Listeria can not only cost a food retail store millions of dollars, it can also cause severe damage to its reputation. In response to these frightening statistics, experts have conducted considerable research on Listeria. Based on their findings, new technology have been developed to help the food industry better identify, eliminate and control Listeria.