An official website of the United States government.
To quantify the levels of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) processed meat and poultry products sliced in retail supermarket delis compared to levels in RTE processed meat and poultry products sliced and packaged at a USDA or state inspected meat and poultry processing plant.
The study will build off the work previously performed by the National Food Processors Association whose focus was to compare the literiosis risk to consumers from RTE products sliced/processed at retail versus those sliced and packaged at the manufacturer. Data from the current study will be supplied to USDA-FSIS to: estimate actual consumer exposure to L. monocytogenes from RET processed meat and poultry products; and to assist in conducting a rsk assessment of L. monocytogenes in RTE processed meat and poultry products to support science-based strategies for addressing the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in these foods in the United States.