1. Listeria monocytogenes - killer germ in food?

Blended learning course: Listeria monocytogenes management 1. Listeria monocytogenes - killer germ in food?

"Hello and welcome to this e-learning course. I am Dr. Andrea Dreusch, a food safety consultant and microbiologist. I will guide you through the training. L. mono is a germ that has accompanied me from the very beginning of my professional life. Its importance in food production and its occurrence in disease outbreaks has increased in recent years. Legal requirements have become stricter. L. mono is getting more media attention. Let's see why this is the case:"

L. mono in the press

To answer the question: “L. mono – killer germ in food?” To answer, let's first take a look at the press. We're going on a trip to Switzerland. The cases of listeriosis increased there in 2018 and 2020. Here is a report by Swiss television from 2018.

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In 2018, it could not be clarified which food caused the diseases. The authorities explain:

It is only relatively rarely that a connection can be established between the food consumed and the sick.
Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office

2020: The culprit has been found

The culprit was found in May 2020: a cheese dairy whose Brie was contaminated with L. mono.

The consequences are fatal:

Recall of all cheese products. the Cheese factory closes.
The company management is accused: Suspected of multiple manslaughter, bodily harm and violation of the food law.
Total will 34 illnesses, including 10 deaths, attributed to the eruption. Also one pregnant women was affected.

L. mono is a germ that has caused many outbreaks. These often go undetected for years. More information and outbreak examples can be found here:

Robert Koch Institute (RKI): Information on listeriosis in Germany, e.g. smoked and pickled salmon as a cause of outbreaks (2021): https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/L/Listeriose/Listeriose_node.html
Center of Disease Control – Emerging Infectious Diseases journal July 2020: Information on outbreaks around the world, e.g. due to blood sausage in Germany (2018-2019): https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/articles/issue/26/7/table-of-contents

"We remember that L. mono is a germ that often goes undetected for years. During this long period, repeated outbreaks can occur. The disease is often severe, sometimes fatal."

dr Andrea Dreusch

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