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Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a pathogen that can contaminate ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products and causes the disease listeriosis. Listeriosis is estimated to cause approximately 1,600 foodborne illnesses, 1,500 hospitalizations, and 260 deaths in the U.S. annually (Scallan et al., 2011). In most healthy individuals, listeriosis causes flu-like symptoms; however, in highly susceptible populations (e.g., the elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals), listeriosis can lead to spontaneous abortion, septicemia, meningitis, and even death. Several outbreaks of listeriosis have been linked to the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products contaminated with Lm.
