title: Listeria monocytogenes in Fresh Produce: Outbreaks, Prevalence and Contamination Levels.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes, a member of the genusListeria, is widely distributed in agricultural environments, such as soil, manure and water. This organism is a recognized foodborne pathogenic bacterium that causes many diseases, from mild gastroenteritis to severe blood and/or central nervous system infections, as well as abortion in pregnant women. Generally, processed ready-to-eat and cold-stored meat and dairy products are considered high-risk foods forL. monocytogenesinfections that cause human illness (listeriosis). However, recently, several listeriosis outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce contamination around the world. Additionally, many studies have detectedL. monocytogenesin fresh produce samples and even in some minimally processed vegetables. ThusL. monocytogenesmay contaminate fresh produce if present in the growing environment (soil and water). Prevention of biofilm formation is an important control measure to reduce the prevalence and survival ofL. monocytogenesin growing environments and on fresh produce. This article specifically focuses on fresh produce-associated listeriosis outbreaks, prevalence in growing environments, contamination levels of fresh produce, and associated fresh produce safety challenges.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand. Qi.Zhu@lincolnuni.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand. Ravi.Gooneratne@lincoln.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gooneratne
authors.affiliation: Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand. Malik.Hussain@lincoln.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Malik Altaf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hussain
keywords: Listeria monocytogenes; contamination; foodborne pathogen; fresh produce; listeriosis