The USDA has awarded $600,000 grant to the College of Agricultural Sciences at Pennsylvania State University to investigate how biofilms protect Listeria in the environment of plants and on food products.

Listeria is emerging as a significant contaminant of a wide range of foods and most recently, in fruit-packing plants resulting in foodborne infection.

It is apparent that biofilms can protect Listeria from a range of disinfectants. According to Dr. Luke LaBorde, Professor of Food Science, studies will be conducted to determine the mechanism for Listeria resistance.  Molecular technology will be applied to characterize genomes of isolates and to study biofilm formation and its contribution to sanitizer tolerance.

Although this study will concentrate on Listeria isolated from the environment of fruit-packing plants, basic research conducted will be applicable to a wide range of facilities packing meat products, eggs and dairy foods, especially ready-to-eat items.