Surveillance of the contamination by Listeria spp of refrigerators

Abstract

Prevalence and location of Listeria spp were determined by surface sampling on sixty household refrigerators and thirty-four cafeteria cold storage rooms. Listeria monocytogenes was not detected. A strain of Listeria innocua was isolated in the vegetable compartment of a household refrigerator (1.6%). Listeria innocua and seeligeri were respectively found in a vegetable cold storage room of a cafeteria and in both the vegetable and the meat compartments of a cafeteria refrigerator (5.9%). The results of the three microbiological methods (NF V08-055; ALOA/ L. MONO-DISK; OXOID Listeria rapid Test) involved in this study were consistent. The three factors associated with the risk of Listeria found during the study(temperature control, food wrapping, cleaning and disinfection procedures) seemed to be better controlled in cafeterias. Then consumers need food safety education to improve temperature control and sanitation of their refrigerator.