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Contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products with Listeria monocytogenes appears to be predominantly due to post-processing contamination from food system associated environments (e.g., at the processing plant, at retail, in consumer homes) or due to cross-contamination. Major outbreaks, including fatalities, that have been associated with consumption of RTE meat and poultry products in recent years, have led to initiatives undertaken by regulatory authorities and the meat industry in an effort to control L. monocytogenes presence, survival and growth in RTE products. While these efforts may have reduced the incidence of listeriosis over the last few years, considerable additional efforts are needed to further reduce L. monocytogenes transmission. The goals of this multidisciplinary, collaborative effort, among scientists from several institutions and states, include research, education and outreach components aimed at reducing the risk of RTE meat and poultry products associated listeriosis, by intervening at the processing, foodservice, and consumer level. The proposed research, education and outreach activities will complement and extend the recent Food and Drug Administration/US Department of Agriculture (FDA/USDA) L. monocytogenes risk assessment and the new US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) L. monocytogenes control final rule, to achieve continued control of the risk of listeriosis associated with consumption of RTE meats. <P>
The goals will be accomplished through the following objectives: <OL> <LI> Understanding and controlling L. monocytogenes transmission at processing, where the overall goal is to define, develop, and communicate the most effective (cost vs. risk reduction) L. monocytogenes control strategies for RTE meat and poultry processors; <LI> Understanding and controlling L. monocytogenes transmission at foodservice and retail, where the overall goal is to define, develop, and communicate the most effective L. monocytogenes risk reduction strategies for RTE meat and poultry at retail/foodservice; <LI> Understanding and controlling L. monocytogenes transmission at the consumer level, where the overall goal is to define, develop, and communicate the most effective and applicable L. monocytogenes risk reduction strategies at this level of the food chain; <LI> Food systems analysis, where the overall goal is to develop a mathematical model of L. monocytogenes transmission from RTE processing plants to consumers in order to allow improved prediction of effective intervention strategies with regard to overall risk reduction; <LI>Economics of L. monocytogenes control strategies throughout the RTE meat and poultry food system, where the overall goal is to develop a comprehensive analysis of the costs and feasibility of selected L. monocytogenes control alternatives; <LI>Undergraduate and graduate teaching, where the overall goal is to train students with the expertise in Listeria control strategies from processing plant to consumer.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: An estimated 2,493 cases of listeriosis and 499 deaths occur annually in the US. Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of this infection, is present in food processing environments and may contaminate ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products and other foods. In addition, this causative agent of meningitis, abortions and stillbirths, has the ability to survive and multiply in adverse environments, such as under refrigeration. The research, education and outreach activities of this multidisciplinary group of scientists from several institutions and states aim to identify ways to reduce the risk of listeriosis associated with consumption of RTE meat and poultry products. The target audience includes those involved in the RTE meat product continuum, such as processing, retail and foodservice industries, extension personnel, and consumer/health care providers. Expected outcomes include educational manuals, computer programs for modeling, pamphlets and electronic training materials with comprehensive approaches for L. monocytogenes control in RTE meats.
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APPROACH: Execution of the project will start with the following initial activities: (1) a comprehensive review of the literature to update existing reviews as well as the FDA/USDA risk assessment at the time of initiation of the project; (2) an industry survey to determine current concerns, issues, practices, vulnerabilities and needs for Listeria control; (3) a foodservice and retail industry survey to determine current concerns, issues, practices, vulnerabilities and needs for Listeria control; (4) an extension outreach survey on current state of knowledge and practices of health care providers in advising those at risk of listeriosis; and, (5) a conference of 1.5 days to bring together interested stakeholders from the public health, academic, industry, and regulatory sectors to discuss the issues and to develop a best approach to address the objectives. These initial tasks will be followed by research, outreach and teaching activities to satisfy the outlined objectives, which will be accomplished by four core-units: (1) L. monocytogenes risks and controls in RTE meat and poultry products at the processing, distribution, retail, foodservice and consumer level; (2) genomics and molecular subtyping; (3) outreach and education; and, (4) mathematical modeling and economics. Standard detection and subtyping methods for L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. will be used to test environmental and product samples from at least six processing establishments and 8-10 retail operations. Data will be used to analyze contamination patterns, to determine sources/spread and persistence of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp., and to develop mathematical transmission models. Research efforts will also focus on evaluating the present USDA-FSIS strategy, as described in the final rule, of combining lethality and listeriostatic approaches with a particular emphasis on control of low levels of contamination, including resistance, injury, repair and outgrowth, and furthermore, refining the final rule options and alternative approaches to maximize listeriosis risk reduction. Outreach activities, through workshops and WWW-based training materials, will focus on training and communication of existing and new knowledge on the most effective L. monocytogenes risk reduction strategies to processors, retail and deli operators, and managers, and health inspectors. Furthermore, outreach activities will focus on educating high risk consumers and their health care or food service providers. In addition to the initial conference, at least one symposium at a national scientific meeting will be organized to present findings and recommendations of the work, upon completion of the project. The conference and symposium will be documented in proceedings available on CD and on appropriate web pages. The expected outcome of the above activities will be educational manuals, computer programs for modeling, pamphlets and electronic training materials with comprehensive approaches for L. monocytogenes control in RTE meat and poultry products, and they will target or have components applicable to processors, foodservice/retail operators of various sizes, and consumer/heath care providers.