Precut prepackaged lettuce: a risk for listeriosis?

Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2008 Dec;5(6):731-46. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2008.0142.

Abstract

The most recent outbreaks of listeriosis have been traced back to contaminated ready-to-eat (RTE) poultry and meat products. However, Listeria monocytogenes can be isolated from every food group, including fresh vegetables. This review is focused on one of the most popular RTE vegetable products, precut prepackaged lettuce. The available literature concerning Listeria contamination of vegetables is reviewed, and possible reasons why no recent outbreaks or sporadic cases of listeriosis due to contaminated precut prepackaged lettuce are explored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Consumer Product Safety
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Disinfection / methods
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Contamination / prevention & control
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Food Microbiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Lactuca / microbiology*
  • Listeria monocytogenes / growth & development*
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors