Learning by experience

I know about Listeria monocytogenes...on paper, in a culture tube, but I've never sampled for it in the environment.

My lab, the Food Safety Lab at Cornell University, was asked to create an environmental sampling plan to test for L. mono in the Cornell Dairy Processing Plant in its new location. (R.I.P. runway of Stocking Hall).

L. monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can persist in food processing environments. Not only can it cause serious illness in humans - especially susceptible populations like the young, the elderly and the immunocompromised - it's considered a food adulterant by the FDA. Keeping a plant Listeria-free is good for safety and for preventing regulatory headaches.

I volunteered to be on a student team to design the sampling, processing, and record documentation.

To help keep track of the steps, I'll blog about our experience.