A maximum increase of 3e4 log cfu g1 was reached, starting from rind contamination levels C and D, after 15 and 30 days, respectively. However, as already noticed for contamination level B, after 55 days, L. monocytogenes started to decrease, probably as a consequence of the stress in the matrix to which a lower number of cells has been difficult to respond. Anyway, at the end of the considered shelf life, the pathogen was still beyond the limit imposed by Commission Regulation No. 2073/2005.