Scientists from Kansas State University, Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health published (Deniz et al, 2025, “Formation and control of Listeria monocytogenes growth and accumulation on food processing surfaces in the fresh produce industry” Journal of Food Protection Sep 2025) that the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to form biofilms significantly contributes to its persistence and contamination risks. The study assessed the growth and accumulation of L. monocytogenes on common food processing surfaces in the produce industry. It evaluated the efficacy of commercially available sanitizers alone or simultaneously with UV-C light. All liquid sanitizers significantly reduced L. monocytogenes independently of the surface type (P < 0.05). UV-C treatment application time had no significant effect on biofilm reduction (P > 0.05), though its efficacy on 24 h aggregates varied significantly depending on the surface material. Peracetic acid and lactic acid were the most effective treatments across surfaces, while UV-C alone was the least effective. Mature biofilms exhibited extensive surface coverage on all surfaces, which was visibly reduced following sanitizer application. @ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100619
