scholarly journals Prevalence of Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes on Raw Produce Arriving at Frozen Food Manufacturing Facilities

Author(s):  
Brittany Fran Magdovitz ◽  
Sanjay Gummalla ◽  
Donna M Garren ◽  
Harshavardhan Thippareddi ◽  
Mark E Berrang ◽  
...  

Ubiquity of Listeria monocytogenes in the environment impacts the food industry and presents concerns for frozen food facilities. This study determined the prevalence and numbers of Listeria species and L. monocytogenes on raw produce arriving at frozen food facilities. Raw produce was collected using multi-level blinding protocols to ensure anonymity of participants and avoid traceback. Five raw vegetables were selected: corn, carrots, green beans, peas, and spinach. Raw products were collected after arrival at the facilities but before any cleaning or other pre-processing steps that are typically performed inside the facility. The FDA BAM method for detection of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes was followed, with PCR screening followed by selective plating methods. Listeria numbers were estimated from positive samples using MPN methodology. A total of 290 samples were collected, with 96 and 17 samples positive for Listeria spp. (33.1%) and L. monocytogenes (5.9%), respectively. Enumeration data for the 96 Listeria spp. samples indicated 82 samples had greater than 100 MPN Listeria spp./g and 14 samples less than 100 MPN Listeria spp./g. The prevalence of Listeria spp. varied by commodity: spinach (66.7%), peas (50%), corn (32.2%), green beans (22.2%), and carrots (13%). L. monocytogenes prevalence was determined in corn (13.6%), peas (6.3%), and green beans (4.2%) arriving at processing facilities. Such data was previously unavailable to frozen vegetable processors and is valuable in implementing process control standards. The prevalence and pathogen concentration data from raw commodities found in this study can provide the industry information to conduct more accurate quantitative risk assessments and provide a baseline to model and target appropriate pathogen reduction steps during processing.

1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T Feldsine ◽  
Andrew H Lienau ◽  
Robin L Forgey ◽  
Roger D Calhoon ◽  
S Al-Hasani ◽  
...  

Abstract Six foods representing a variety of food products were analyzed by the Assurance Listeria polyclonal enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and by either the Bacteriological Analytical Manual or the U.S. Department of Agriculture culture method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria species. Samples of each food type, at each inoculation level, were analyzed simultaneously by both methods. A total of 19 laboratories representing federal government agencies and private industry in the United States and Canada participated. Food types were inoculated with Listeria species including L. monocytogenes, with the exception of 3 lots of green beans, which were naturally contaminated. During this study, 1764 samples and controls were analyzed and confirmed, of which 492 were positive and 947 were negative by both methods. There were 159 samples that were positive by culture method but negative by the EIA and 188 that were negative by culture method but positive by EIA. Twenty-two samples were negative by EIA and by culture method but confirmed positive when Assurance selective enrichment broths were subcultured to selective agar. The Assurance polyclonal EIA for detecting L. monocytogenes and related Listeria species in foods has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.


1997 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T Feldsine ◽  
Andrew H Lienau ◽  
Robin L Forgey ◽  
Roger D Calhoon ◽  
S Al-Hasani ◽  
...  

Abstract Six foods representing a variety of food products were analyzed by the Assurance Listeria polyclonal enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and by either the Bacteriological Analytical Manual or the U.S. Department of Agriculture culture method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria species. Samples of each food type, at each inoculation level, were analyzed simultaneously by both methods. A total of 19 laboratories representing federal government agencies and private industry in the United States and Canada participated. Food types were inoculated with Listeria species including L. monocytogenes, with the exception of 3 lots of green beans, which were naturally contaminated. During this study, 1764 samples and controls were analyzed and confirmed, of which 492 were positive and 947 were negative by both methods. There were 159 samples that were positive by culture method but negative by the EIA and 188 that were negative by culture method but positive by EIA. Twenty-two samples were negative by EIA and by culture method but confirmed positive when Assurance selective enrichment broths were subcultured to selective agar. The Assurance polyclonal EIA for detecting L. monocytogenes and related Listeria species in foods has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1664-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Padmapriya P. Banada ◽  
Songling Guo ◽  
Bulent Bayraktar ◽  
Euiwon Bae ◽  
Bartek Rajwa ◽  
...  

1987 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. LOVETT ◽  
D. W. FRANCIS ◽  
J. M. HUNT

To determine the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk, an isolation method was evaluated and used to analyze milk from three areas of the United States. The incidence varied by area from 0% in California to 7% in Massachusetts, with an overall incidence of 4.2%. The highest incidence found in any area during a single sampling period was 12% in Massachusetts in March 1985. During that same sampling, the incidence for all Listeria species was 26%. Of the 27 L. monocytogenes strains isolated during the survey, 25 were pathogenic in adult mice. One of three Listeria ivanovii isolated was pathogenic. No other isolates demonstrated pathogenicity.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. EL MARRAKCHI ◽  
A. HAMAMA ◽  
F. EL OTHMANI

Examination of 227 samples of milk and dairy products for Listeria monocytogenes showed that raw milk and some Moroccan traditionally made dairy products such as Iben and raib (fermented milks) and jben (fresh cheese) were contaminated with this pathogen. L. monocytogenes was the only Listeria species isolated except in one case in which it was associated with Listeria innocua. Pasteurized milk, fresh cream, and fresh and ripened cheeses (industrially made) were free from L. monocytogenes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 1865-1869 ◽  
Author(s):  
AAKASH KHURANA ◽  
GEORGE B. AWUAH ◽  
BRADLEY TAYLOR ◽  
ELENA ENACHE

Studies were conducted to evaluate the combined effect of selected acidulants (acetic, citric, malic, and phosphoric acid) and heat on foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes) in pureed green beans. To establish a consistent reference point for comparison, the molar concentrations of the acids remained constant while the acid-to-puree ratio, titratable acidity, and undissociated acid were either measured or calculated for a target acidified green beans at a pH of 3.8, 4.2, and 4.6. The D-values at 149°F were used as the criteria for acid efficacy. Generally, acetic acid (puree, pH 3.8 and 4.2) represented the most effective acid with comparatively low D-values irrespective of the target microorganism. A 10-s heating at 149°F inactivated approximately 106 CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 in pureed beans at pH 3.8. The efficacy of acetic acid is likely related to the elevated percent titratable acidity, undissociated acid, and acid-to-puree ratio. The effectiveness (which in this study represents the combined effect of acid and heat) of the remaining acids (citric, malic, and phosphoric) at puree pH values of 3.8 and 4.2 were statistically insignificant (α = 0.05). Surprisingly, acetic acid (puree, pH 4.6) appeared to be the least effective as compared to the other acids tested (citric, malic, and phosphoric) especially on E. coli O157:H7 cells, while L. monocytogenes had a similar resistance to all acids at puree pH 4.6. With the exception of citric acid (pH 3.8), acetic acid (pH 4.6), and malic acid (pH 3.8 and 4.6), which were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05), the D-values for L. monocytogenes were statistically different (P ≤ 0.05) and higher than the D-values for E. coli under similar experimental conditions. A conservative process recommendation (referred to as the “safe harbor” process) was found sufficient and applicable to pureed green beans for the pH range studied.


1990 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 642-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
CURTT M. PERRY ◽  
CATHERINE W. DONNELLY

Silage samples representing approximately 10% of Vermont's dairy farms were tested for the presence of Listeria species. Listeria innocua was isolated from 15.3% of the silage samples, while Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 2.9% of the examined samples. As silage pH increased, the incidence of Listeria increased concomitantly. Seventy-eight mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, indigenous to silage, were screened for specific and nonspecific antagonism against four L. monocytogenes indicator strains. Most of the silage isolates demonstrated nonspecific inhibition via lactic acid production against the L. monocytogenes indicator strains. None of the indigenous silage isolates tested in this survey demonstrated specific antagonism via production of bacteriocinogenic compounds.


1988 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 840-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL B. LIEWEN ◽  
MARK W. PLAUTZ

Raw milk samples were obtained from bulk storage tanks of individual dairy farms in eastern Nebraska during February and July of 1986. One hundred different farms were tested during each period. One-tenth ml of each sample was plated directly onto McBride's Listeria Agar (MLA) and 30 ml was subjected to a four-week cold enrichment procedure. Suspect colonies from MLA were subjected to biochemical tests to confirm identity. Nine percent of all raw milk samples examined were determined to be positive for Listeria species after the cold enrichment procedure. Four percent contained L. monocytogenes and five percent contained L. innocua. Six percent and two percent of samples were found to contain L. monocytogenes in February and July respectively.


2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 780-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
IRENE V. WESLEY ◽  
KAREN M. HARMON ◽  
JAMES S. DICKSON ◽  
ANN RAMOS SCHWARTZ

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction was developed to simultaneously identify Listeria monocytogenes and species of the genus Listeria. Two sets of primers were used, with the first amplifying a 938-bp region of the 16S rRNA gene that is highly conserved in all Listeria species and the second amplifying a 174-bp region of the listeriolysin (hlyA) gene of L. monocytogenes. Thus, isolates of Listeria spp. yield a single 938-bp product, whereas L. monocytogenes isolates yield both the 938-bp product and a 174-bp product. The specificity of the assay was verified with all six Listeria species and 11 serotypes of L. monocytogenes, as well as nonrelated bacteria. The multiplex PCR assay was used to determine the incidence of Listeria spp., especially L. monocytogenes, in mechanically separated turkey samples (n = 150 samples). L. monocytogenes strains were selected by using the University of Vermont two-step enrichment protocol and plating to selective Palcam agar. The multiplex PCR assay was used for verification of presumptive Listeria colonies. Approximately 38% of mechanically separated turkey samples (57 of 150) yielded L. monocytogenes; an additional 18% of these samples (27 of 150) harbored other Listeria spp. Fifty-one percent (29 of 57) of the L. monocytogenes isolates were of serogroup 1, 44% (25 of 57) were of serogroup 4, and 2% (1 of 57) were assigned to serogroups other than 1 and 4.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
WON-BO SHIM ◽  
JIN-GIL CHOI ◽  
JI-YOUNG KIM ◽  
ZHENG-YOU YANG ◽  
KYU-HO LEE ◽  
...  

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunochromatography (ICG) strip test, and immunomagnetic bead separation (IMBS) system based on a monoclonal antibody were individually developed for the detection and isolation of Listeria monocytogenes in meat samples. The three methods showed a strong reaction with Listeria species and a weak reaction with Staphylococcus aureus. To increase the rapidity of L. monocytogenes detection, combinations of the ELISA and ICG strip test with the IMBS system (ELISA-IMBS and ICG-IMBS) were investigated. In comparative analyses of artificially inoculated meat and samples of processed meat, the ELISA and ICG strip test required 24 h of enrichment time to detect the inoculated meat samples with ≥ 1 × 102 CFU/10 g, whereas the ELISA-IMBS and ICG-IMBS required only 14 h of enrichment. Analyses of naturally contaminated meat samples (30 pork samples, 20 beef samples, 26 chicken samples, 20 fish samples, and 20 processed meat samples) performed by ELISA-IMBS, ICG-IMBS, and API kit produced similar results. The ELISA-IMBS and ICG-IMBS provide a more rapid assay than the individual ELISA and the ICG strip test and are appropriate for rapid and qualitative detection of L. monocytogenes (or Listeria species) in meat samples. With the ICG-IMBS, L. monocytogenes could be detected in meat samples within 15 h and the method has potential as a rapid, cost-effective on-site screening tool for the detection of L. monocytogenes in food samples and agricultural products at a minimum detection level of ~100 CFU/10 g.


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