A survey of Listeria monocytogenes strains, isolated from ready-to-eat foods in Israel over a period of 10 years, 1998–2007

Between 1998 and 2007 the food-control laboratories in Israel tested 10,413 samples from five groups of RTE foods: salads/dips, dairy, fish, poultry and meat. A total of 1260 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes were identified and submitted to the reference listeria laboratory. The average isolation rate was 12.1% with the highest prevalence being registered in poultry (27%). The serological results showed the prevalence of Lineage I, followed by Lineages II and III. The report revealed a high isolation rate of L. monocytogenes in certain RTE foods in spite of the existing zero tolerance policy.