|
Title of Research:
Post-Lethality Environment of Very Small Processing Plants for
Listeria Species |
|
|
Place:
University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
Authors:
Drs. Dennis R. Buege and Steven C. Ingham
Purpose:
The purpose of this audit was to sample food contact and
non-food contact surfaces in the post-lethality environment to
determine if and where Listeria contamination is a problem in small
and very small plants.
Summary:
Because Listeria is so widely distributed in the
environment, it is very likely that it would be found on both food
and non-food surfaces in food establishments. It is recommended that
post-lethality contact surfaces be re-sanitized directly before use
when such equipment/surfaces are not used every day. Food contact
surfaces that were positive for Listeria were found on
slicers, surfaces of packaging tables/carts, internal cavity of
chamber vacuum packaging equipment, and tubs/lugs that hold RTE
product.
Non-food contact surfaces that reveal a particularly high rate of
incidence for Listeria were floors and drains. It is
recommended that processors work with sanitation suppliers to
develop a sound floor and drain sanitation program. Such a program
may include routine scrubbing of floors and drains, application of
high levels of quat sanitizers (800+ ppm), limiting use of high
pressure hoses and altering/limiting employee foot traffic where
possible.
Benefits:
The result of this
audit
of smaller-scale plants provides operators with a snapshot of the
Listeria status of the post-lethality environment over a
wide range of plants. Knowing where this pathogen is likely to be
found in operations similar to their own will aid processors in
addressing the challenge of controlling Listeria in the
post-lethality environment. As this information was being collected
it was shared with the participating plants and the state extension
service so they could provide general assistance to the industry for
identifying Listeria contaminated surfaces.
The full report on this research can be found on the Fiscal Year 2003 table under the column Food Safety Technologies - Additional Information.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
To view PDF files you must have Adobe Reader installed on your computer.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
