Listeria monocytogenes is the causative agent of listeriosis, one ofthe most virulent foodborne diseases that the regulatory agenciesand meat processers around the world have been trying to keepcontained (Luber et al., 2011). Listeriosis is characterized by a highcase-fatality rate, 20e30% that increases to 75% in high risk groups(Awaisheh and Ibrahim, 2009; Aymerich, Picouet, & Monfort,2008). The infection with L. monocytogenes has been linked pre-dominately to the consumption of contaminated ready-t