Every time I teach virtual classes or give a presentation, I like to begin with what I believe are the obligations of food manufacturers. It is important to provide the "why," or the motivation for the programs we implement that relate to food safety, quality, and regulatory conformance. Included in these obligations are:
Implementing an effective Listeria monocytogenes environmental monitoring program (EMP) is an important way to ensure that a company will meet obligations to consumer/customer protection, maintain its reputation and its brands, and conform to regulatory requirements. A good Listeria monitoring program enables knowledge of where Listeria can enter, harbor, and move through the facility, which is the first step toward keeping it on the run and not allowing it to impact production surfaces or finished product. Many of us who had the great fortune to learn from Bruce Tompkin, Ph.D., have heard him explain that Listeria will continue to be introduced to the food environment, so it is incumbent for us to continue to identify where we can find it in the plant. This process is often referred to as "Seek and Destroy"—a method pioneered by John Butts, Ph.D.—with the "seek" portion being the monitoring program. The goal is to find Listeria in the environment and then implement the "destroy" component and eliminate it when it is found, as well as prevent recurrence (Figure 1).