Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic (disease-causing) bacterium that is food- borne and causes an illness called listeriosis. Listeria survives at in temperatures from below freezing (0°C) to body temperature and it grows best at 0°C to 5°C, the temperature range that we use for refrigeration. As a result, Listeria may be transmitted in ready-to-eat foods that have been kept properly refrigerated.

Its ability to grow in such diverse environments is just one of the many challenges presented by this dangerous bacteria. Listeria monocytogenes is widely distributed in nature, being found in sewage, decaying vegetable matter, all farm animals, domestic pets and man. It is very hardy and is able to grow at low temperatures (i.e. in a refrigerator). The presence of the bacteria usually indicates poor personal hygiene practices during manufacture or distribution.