How should refrigerated food processors respond to a government proposal about Listeria limits? Here’s one expert’s view.

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium that can contaminate foods and cause a mild illness or, in some cases, a severe life-threatening disease. Some of the foods that have been implicated in listeria outbreaks have been ready-to-eat foods (RTE), which sometimes can support the growth of the organism to high numbers.