contamination of pate with Listeria monocytogenes--results from the 1994 European Community-coordinated food control program for England and Wales

The Listeria monocytogenes contamination of 3,065 pate products sampled at the point of retail sale in England and Wales was examined. Ninety-seven percent of samples were free of contamination with L. monocytogenes, 2.0% (60) had levels of less than 200 CFU/g, and 0.6% (18) had levels of 200 CFU/g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of food protection 1998-10, Vol.61 (10), p.1299-1304
Main Authors: Nichols, G, McLauchlin, J, De Louvois, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Data Collection
England
European Union
Fish and seafood industries
Food Handling
Food industries
Food Inspection
Food Microbiology
Food Packaging
food paste
food safety
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
International Agencies
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeria monocytogenes - growth & development
Listeria monocytogenes - isolation & purification
Meat and meat product industries
Meat Products - microbiology
microbial contamination
surveys
Wales
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Summary:The Listeria monocytogenes contamination of 3,065 pate products sampled at the point of retail sale in England and Wales was examined. Ninety-seven percent of samples were free of contamination with L. monocytogenes, 2.0% (60) had levels of less than 200 CFU/g, and 0.6% (18) had levels of 200 CFU/g or more. Fish and seafood pate were significantly more commonly contaminated by L. monocytogenes than other pate types (x2 test, P = 0.001). Pate obtained from small retail shops was significantly more likely to be contaminated at levels of greater than or equal to 200 CFU/g (x2 tests, P < 0.0005) than that obtained from supermarkets. L. monocytogenes was isolated significantly more often (x2 tests, P < 0.00002) from packs of pate that were open at the time of collection (3.8%) than those that were sold prepacked (1.2%). There were also significantly more samples (x2 test, P = 0.0009) where L. monocytogenes was recovered at higher levels (greater than or equal to 200 CFU/g) in opened, as compared to prepacked, samples. There was a significant difference in the rates and levels of contamination of opened samples between shops and supermarkets (x2 tests, P < 0.0025). Evidence from this study shows that most of the pate sold in England and Wales is not contaminated with L. monocytogenes, and we suggest that the main areas of concern are cross-contamination and the length of display of pate sold from opened packs.
ISSN:0362-028X
1944-9097
DOI:10.4315/0362-028X-61.10.1299