Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020 - 326

TABLE 4. Listeria culture positive result summary during sampling events by retailer
Final sampling event:
Retailer

Species results

A

L. monocytogenes

B

L. monocytogenes

C

L. monocytogenes

D

L. welshimeri

D
D

Corrective action sampling event:

Positive result Sampling
Positive result
Listeria species results
sample location
zone
sample location
Deli case
2
None found
None found
No corrective action
Slicer
1
necessary; retailer replaced
slicer
Mop bucket
1
L. welshimeri
Slicer tablea
wheel
Meat
L. monocytogenes and
Knife holderb
2
department
L. welshimeri
floor drain
Cutting board
L. monocytogenes
on floor
L. innocua
Hallway floor

Sampling
zone
1-3

3
3
2
3

Slicer table was sampled during corrective action sampling and was negative for Listeria species.
Knife holder was sampled during corrective action sampling and was negative for Listeria species.

a
b

department floor drain at retailer D was included in cluster
PDS000003204 (127 isolates total). It was 11 SNPs apart
from the closest environmental isolate (food contact surface,
Missouri 2017) and the closest clinical isolate (United States
2016). Isolate SAMN08437792 recovered from a deli-slicing
table in facility C belonged to cluster PDS000003255 (31
isolates). This isolate's closest relatives (one SNP distance)
were environmental isolates collected in Canada and the
United States from food, cantaloupe, RTE product and raw
meat (2014 to 2018). The closest clinical isolate (three SNP
distance) was collected in 2015 in Canada.
Environmental assessment results
In terms of adhering to eight of the most important
recommended actions identified by the USDA FSIS
"retail L. monocytogenes guidance" (Table 5), only 12
operations (21.1%) were reported adhering to all eight
recommendations as compared with FSIS Pilot Project
Results (fiscal year 2016 to 2018; n = 58 delis in Iowa,
38.0%) (46). For the current study, the majority of
participating operations in Iowa (n = 34, 59.7%) adhered
to at least seven of the eight recommendations. The fourth
recommendation, cover, wrap, or otherwise protect all
opened RTE meat or poultry products when not in use to
prevent cross-contamination (FDA Food Code), had the
highest adherence among deli operations (n = 56, 98.0%).
On the other hand, the third recommendation, do not
prepare, hold, or store RTE meat or poultry products near

326

Food Protection Trends September/October

or directly adjacent to raw products in the deli case, was least
likely for the operations to adhere to (n = 30; 53.0%; see
Table 6).
Additionally, in the comparison of adherence to each
of the eight recommendations between the selected delis
in Iowa data set and federal data set (Table 6), Iowa had a
higher percentage of adherence to the recommendation to
promptly cover the RTE products (n = 56, 98%) as compared
with the national data set (n = 3,375, 87.5%). On the other
hand, the adherence percentage to the remaining seven
recommendations were higher for the federal rather than the
Iowa data set used in this study.
Of the 57 operations, a breakdown by location and size was
as follows: 35 were small and located in rural areas, 8 were
small and located in urban areas, 9 were large and located in
rural areas, and 5 were large located in urban areas. In terms
of adhering to the eight recommendations by retail deli operation size (Table 7), large retail deli operations had 100% (n
= 14) adherence to two recommendations: eliminate visibly
adulterated product (P = 0.011) and refrigerate RTE meal or
poultry products promptly (P < 0.001). However, small deli
operation only had 100% (n = 43) adherence for one recommendation; cover, wrap, or otherwise protect all opened RTE
(P < 0.001). As compared with small delis, large delis had
higher adherence for all eight recommendations, except for
adhering to covering, wrapping, and protecting all opened
RTE (n = 13, 92.9%). Among the eight recommendations,
adherence to the recommendation related to not preparing,
Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - September/October 2020
