10/18/2017 Prevalence and the Regulatory Status Prevalence and the Regulatory of L.monocytogenes Status of L.monocytogenes Contamination of food is widespread Contamination levels Leading cause of recalls -0%in bakery goods -16%in ready-to-eat foods 25 -60%in raw chicken Preserved but not heat treated foods are more often contaminated Isolated from numerous vegetables There is a zero tolerance for Lm in ready- to-eat foods but no detectable method that is 100%accurate! International Debate on Regulatory International Debate on Regulatory Status Status Because it is so common,requlatory US and the UK have a zero tolerance agencies in some countries conclude level that it is impossible to have Lm-free foods -infective dose is unknown therefore -tolerance levels are established an acceptable tolerance is impossible to set products that have caused listeriosis are requlated more strictly foods intended for susceptible populations must be free of Lm other foods less than 100 CFU/gr of food 10/18/2017 8 Prevalence and the Regulatory Status of L. monocytogenes • Contamination of food is widespread • Leading cause of recalls Prevalence and the Regulatory Status of L. monocytogenes • Contamination levels - 0% in bakery goods - 16% in ready-to-eat foods - 60% in raw chicken • Preserved but not heat treated foods are more often contaminated • Isolated from numerous vegetables • There is a zero tolerance for Lm in ready￾to-eat foods but no detectable method that is 100% accurate! International Debate on Regulatory Status • Because it is so common, regulatory agencies in some countries conclude that it is impossible to have Lm-free foods - tolerance levels are established - products that have caused listeriosis are regulated more strictly - foods intended for susceptible populations must be free of Lm - other foods less than 100 CFU/gr of food International Debate on Regulatory Status • US and the UK have a zero tolerance level - infective dose is unknown therefore an acceptable tolerance is impossible to set