Listeria

This volume is part of a series of ten practical food microbiology texts for the food industry designed to give relevant information about specific organisms of concern to public health, and means of control and monitoring.

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Illness as a result of foodborne human pathogenic micro-organisms has been in the news in recent years. In response to the public and industry concern the "Practical Food Microbiology Series" has been devised to give practical and accurate information to industry about specific organisms of concern to public health. The series has a practical approach, as it draws on real life situations to give preventative means for control of organisms and pragmatic solutions when things go wrong. Outbreaks of foodborne listeriosis in the early 1980s demonstrated the nature of the illness with high levels of mortality for vulnerable areas of the community. The book details the causes of these incidents and assesses the lessons that can be learnt from them. It examines the nature of listeria monocytogenes and considers both conventional and alternative ways in which it can be detected and monitored. This information is designed for use by the food industry, particularly personnel working in manufacturing, and safety and quality control.