A recent study published in the Journal of Food Protection has analyzed alternative methods of environmental monitoring for Listeria monocytogenesin food production facilities, providing insight into the benefits and drawbacks of two alternative methods accepted by professional organizations, in comparison to a traditional culture-based method.
Environmental monitoring programs (EMPs) are cited as an example of verification for general hygiene practices under Codex Alimentariustexts on Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The study cites Codex, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in stating that environmental monitoring is especially critical for L. monocytogenes due to the pathogen’s ability to form biofilms and become persistent in a facility. Codex also uses Listeria as an example of indicator organisms in EMPs for verifying HACCP plans.