Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen of great interest due to its unique epidemiological features, its ubiquity and the severity of the diseases it causes The purpose of this work was to study the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in modified-atmosphere-packaged (MAP) vegetables available to consumers in Valencia by normalized cultural method and multiplex PCR technique. L. monocytogenes was detected in a total of 23 among 70 MAP vegetables samples. Cultural method allowed the isolation of three strains of this pathogen while PCR yielded L. monocytogenes positive results in 22 samples.