Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes) is a type of bacteria, which can be found in soil, water and animal faeces. Listeria can cause an illness called Listeriosis.
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Listeria is unique in that in refrigerated environments it can survive and multiply, as such eating contaminated foods is the main source of infection. Foods which are kept refrigerated for longer periods of time, as well as foods that are consumed without further treatment that would typically kill off the Listeria are at risk of contamination.
So, what is it about Listeria that causes so many problems compared to other food poisoning bacteria? The worrying fact is that it is a hardy, cold loving microorganism that can multiply rapidly at refrigerated temperatures in most foods.
With a growing market for Read to Eat (RTE) foods and the relentless push to extend shelf-life, any relaxation in hygiene control can increase the risk of contamination. A single listeria cell can easily multiply and reach infective dose levels within a few days, causing listeriosis.
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For a food manufacturer, if a food product contamination has been detected and is destroyed before it’s release, it’s a minor loss. But if not, it becomes a major problem with a high possibility for a recall. That’s what you don’t want.
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We at FMCG Industry Solutions provide a variety of solutions to tackle Listeria at any given stage. Whether it be detection, prevention, or elimination, we’ll have the right product for you.
We have ample options to gauge the presence of Listeria on your surfaces. Our flagship Listeria Path-chek gives a presumptive detection of listeria in only 24 hours.
Ensuring your hygiene is up to standard is key to keeping Listeria at bay. We provide a unique combination of boot washers and brushes to ensure no Listeria is carried over.
For a more persistent problem, we provide cutting-edge solutions to completely eliminate Listeria. Notably, Phageguard is a concentrated phage solution that specifically seeks out listeria pathogens. It’s a versatile product that is suitable for both environmental and food applications.