WASHINGTON – Funding to support research to develop practical and feasible control strategies for Listeria monyocytogenes (Lm) in retail delicatessens will be provided by the American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Foundation.
Lm is a pathogenic bacteria can be found in all environments, including retail stores and in the home. Controlling Listeria is a challenge due to the common presence and persistence of the bacteria within the environment.
Haley Oliver, Ph.D, assistant professor, Department of Food Science, Purdue University, will lead the research. Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., associate professor in Cornell University Department of Food Science, will collaborate on the project.
“We are pleased to fund this important project with our retail customers through FMI,” said James Hodges, AMI Foundation president. “This important project will help us continue our work to reduce and ultimately eliminate Listeria on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.”
AMIF’s and the FMIF’s support complements funding provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. This funding will enable Researchers will be enabled to develop and evaluate control strategies for Listeria monocytogenes in retail delis thanks to this funding.
Supermarkets will voluntarily participate in the multi-stage study. Research phases include:
- Identify target locations where L. monocytogenes is likely to be found or may be able to persist in the retail environment.
- Develop and implement practical control strategies that may effectively reduce L. monocytogenes in retail deli environments and prevent potential cross-contamination.
- Verify the efficacy of the control strategies through follow-up testing.
