Executive Summary
The produce industry has come to understand the importance of controlling Lm and other environmental pathogens over the last decade. CPS-funded research has examined factors that can contribute to resident Lm including facility and equipment design, and the use of soft or porous construction materials that offer niches for bacteria to “hide” and avoid efforts to eliminate them during cleaning and sanitation. The research has also highlighted the importance of establishing a consistent and comprehensive strategy for cleaning and sanitation that is aggressively supported by a risk-based environmental monitoring program.
Key learnings:
- Listeria spp., including Lm, are commonly found in many natural, non-agricultural environments across the U.S.
- Listeria and Salmonella species have been found throughout the fresh produce supply chain from the field through harvest, cooling, packing, processing, warehousing, and retail display.
- The best defense against Lm, the only human pathogenic species among Listeria species, is an aggressive cleaning and sanitation program.
- Equally important is an aggressive and comprehensive environmental monitoring program (EMP) that verifies cleaning and sanitation efficacy every day and employs risk-based, data-driven testing for environmental indicators, surrogates, and pathogens as appropriate.
- New technologies and tools are emerging have the potential to enhance strategies for Listeria control.