The heat resistance of Listeria monocytogenes

Heat resistance data for Listeria monocytogenes are reviewed. The organism is appreciably more resistant than common Salmonella serotypes but less resistant than Salmonella senftenberg 775W. Reports that the organism can survive heating at 80°C have not been substantiated and are incompatible with carefully determined D and z values in milk and a range of foods. Cooking food to an internal temperature of 70°C for 2 min is adequate to ensure destruction of L. monocytogenes. Normal pasteurization procedures will inactivate L. monocytogenes in milk but the margin of safety is greater for vat pasteurization than for high temperature short time treatment.