Prevalence of Listeria Species on Food Contact Surfaces in Washington State Apple Packinghouses.

ABSTRACT: The 2014 caramel apple listeriosis outbreak was traced back to cross-contamination between food contact surfaces (FCS) of equipment used for packing and fresh apples. For Washington state, the leading apple producer in the United States with 79% of its total production directed to the fresh market, managing the risk of apple contamination with Listeria monocytogenes within the packing environment is crucial. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. on FCS in Washington state apple packinghouses over two packing seasons and to identify those FCS types with the greatest likelihood to harbor Listeria spp. Five commercial apple packinghouses were visited quarterly over two consecutive year-long packing seasons. A range of 27 to 50 FCS were swabbed at each

SUBMITTER: Ruiz-Llacsahuanga B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8091025 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature