Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can contaminate foods and cause a mild illness or, in some cases, a severe life-threatening disease. Some of the foods that have been implicated in listeria outbreaks have been ready-to-eat foods (RTE), which sometimes can support the growth of the organism to high numbers.

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods: What were last year’s most pressing refrigerated food safety issues?

Canada's recent food poisoning crisis with processed meats now has been traced to mechanical areas deep within two meat slicers at Maple Leaf Foods' Bartor Road plant in Toronto.