Study Finds Listeria monocytogenes Bacteria Persist in Ready-to-Eat Food Production Environments

A recent study by scientists from the Quadram Institute and the UK Health Security Agency found that Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can persist in ready-to-eat food production environments despite cleaning. The researchers discovered stable bacterial populations coexisting with L. monocytogenes, suggesting the need for new strategies to alter entire bacterial populations for complete pathogen elimination. The study’s lead scientist, Dr. María Díaz, emphasized the importance of cleaning in reducing bacterial load and mitigating cross-contamination, while also noting significant differences in bacterial populations in areas of the facility kept at different temperatures.