Dairy foods are linked to almost one-quarter of infections caused by the food borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, accounting for over $700 million in healthcare costs annually in the U.S. alone. Many of these have been traced to Hispanic-style and soft-ripened cheeses. Investigators highlight the challenges to safe cheese production and propose a foundation for improving food safety to meet public health needs and market demands in a review published in the Journal of Dairy Science®. The same team also reports on an effective antimicrobial agent to fight Listeria that may address limitations of current antilisterial processes for fresh cheeses.
Listeria is a notorious safety issue. Listeria infections can develop into serious complications, including pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis. It can cause complications in pregnancy and may result in miscarriage or stillbirth. Although rare, its high fatality rate among young, elderly, pregnant, or otherwise immunocompromised individuals has led the U.S. to declare Listeria one of three zero-tolerance microorganisms in ready-to-eat foods.