Occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods from supermarkets in Southern Italy.
The study provides data on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods from supermarkets in Southern Italy. The pathogen was detected in 105/1045 (10%) RTE food samples. In particular, it was highlighted in 4/392 (1%) pastries, 23/112 (20.5%) vacuum-packaged sliced salami samples, 2/108 (1.9%) cream cheese samples, 31/115 (27%) mayonnaise based deli salads and 45/132 (34.1%) smoked salmon samples. The mozzarella samples were L. monocytogenes negative. Given the considerable public health implications, the study confirms that surveillance of listeriosis in Europe should be improved and coordinated between European Union Member States in order to better estimate the burden of disease and to prevent foodborne outbreaks, assessing the human health risk arising from RTE foods.
Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi, Bari, Italy. a.dipinto@veterinaria.uniba.it
Angela
A
Di Pinto
Lucia
L
Novello
Filomena
F
Montemurro
Elisabetta
E
Bonerba
Giuseppina
G
Tantillo
D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000382:microbiology*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology*