Listeria Monocytogenes: Enrichment, Sampling and Novel Surveillance

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, a disease that is a leading cause of death due to foodborne illness in the U.S. In order to facilitate continued progress on reducing the incidence of Listeria in ready-to-eat food products, there is a need for more sensitive, reliable procedures for detection of Listeria.
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APPROACH: We will focus research efforts on the development of rapid and cost effective tools to allow food manufacturers to improve the quantity and quality of data received to better detect, manage and prevent Listeria spp. in their plant environment. Research will be conducted to improve detection of L. monocytogenes through use of improved enrichment strategies, improved sampling techniques and use of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. For improved enrichment strategies, we will assess the impact of repair enrichment strategies to improve detection of L. monocytogenes in foods and environmental samples through use of Listeria Repair Broth and 3M Petrifilm Environmental Listeria Plates. For improved sampling, we will assess performance of the Microbial-Vac (M-Vac) wet vacuum surface sampling technology. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy will be utilized to allow differentiation of Listeria from background contaminants and determine the capacity of this technology to be employed for use in surveliiance of Listeria contamination in food processing plant environments.