GROWTH OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES INOCULATED IN WASTE FLUIDS FROM CLEANUP OF A MEAT GRINDER

The potential of waste fluids from clean‐up of a meat grinder to support growth (8°C and 35°C) of artificially inoculated Listeria monocytogenes Scott A was examined. Estimated generation times were 10.1 and 2.3 hr at 8°C, and 8.9 and 2.2 hr at 35°C for a fluid collected during rinsing of the meat grinder and a fluid collected from the floor drain, respectively. A sanitizer fluid (25 ppm titratable iodine), collected after sanitation of the grinder, inactivated the inoculated cells. Thus, waste fluids may support growth of L. monocytogenes in meat processing facilities, but frequent sanitation should inactivate the pathogen. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved