Sanitary Design’s Role in Fresh Produce Processing to Prevent Listeria Contamination
Listeria contamination has emerged as a serious concern in fresh produce packing houses and fresh-cut processing facilities, where it can be even more of a problem than in ready-to-eat protein processing.
Listeria comprise a group of Gram-positive bacteria found in many places, including soil, feces and sewage. Although most species of Listeria are innocuous, the strain L. monocytogenes is a serious pathogen that sickens many people each year and can have a fatality rate close to 20 percent.