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Submitted to: Institute of Food Technologist
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/25/2015 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Every year, 1 out of 6 peoples in the United States suffer from foodborne illness, more than a hundred thousand are hospitalized and thousands die. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the leading foodborne pathogen responsible for 1600 illnesses and 260 deaths in the U.S. every year. L. monocytogenes is ubiquitous in nature, can grow at refrigerated temperature and survive freezing which is particular concern to the food industry. According to new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) implementation, the FDA has a legislative mandate to require comprehensive, prevention-based controls across the food supply. One of the preventive controls that will be impactful and fully scrutinized by the regulators is the environmental monitoring program. Monitoring of Listeria spp. on the food contact surfaces and plant environment can be used as an indicator for potential L. monocytogenes contamination in food. Challenges in reducing contamination and mitigation strategies will be discussed. |
