GROWTH POTENTIAL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ON A BROAD RANGE OF FRESH PRODUCE

To 1). Determine Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) growth potential and kinetics on major classes of whole and fresh-cut produce under normal storage/retail display conditions; 2). Determine Lm growth potential and kinetics under temperature abuse conditions and develop an indexing system for quantifying temperature abuse; 3). Determine produce nutritional and physiochemical characteristics on Lm growth potential and kinetics; and 4). Evaluate the effects of the indigenous microbial community from produce on Lm growth.