TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS FOR LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES TO AND FROM FOOD CONTACT SURFACES FOUND IN MEAT FABRICATION FACILITIES

Determine the effect of temperature and relative humidity on growth and die-off of L. monocytogenes on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyurethane (PU) conveyor belt surfaces used in processing plants. Assess the impact of food contact material, inoculum level, product moisture content, contact time and contact pressure on transfer coefficients for L. monocytogenes from surface-contaminated hams to HDPE and PU and vice versa. Determine a series of transfer coefficients for L. monocytogenes from inoculated HDPE and PU contact surfaces to ham and vice versa for fifteen subsequent contacts on the same surface initially contaminated with different levels of L. monocytogenes. Develop a mathematical model based on data from the previous objectives that will express and quantify transfer potentials for Listeria cross contamination within the food processing environment.