Today with Claire Byrne Listeria – How concerned should we be?
Aug 19, 2025
Darragh McCullough, a farmer and broadcaster, joins Alan Reilly, an adjunct professor and former CEO of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. They delve into recent listeria outbreaks and what they mean for food safety. The duo discusses the challenges of eradicating listeria in food processing and reassures listeners that recalls are part of advancements in detection, not rising risks. They also explore cutting-edge food safety testing technologies and highlight the importance of safe practices, especially with ready meals and home-grown produce.
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Where Listeria Lives And Who It Hurts
- Listeria is a ubiquitous bacterium found in soil, water and farm materials.
- It becomes dangerous mainly when contaminated food is eaten by vulnerable groups like pregnant women and the elderly.
A Tough Bacterium And How To Remove It
- Listeria is extremely robust and can colonise food processing premises long-term.
- Thorough cleaning with disinfectants is required and cooking kills the bacterium in food.
DNA Fingerprinting Changed Outbreak Detection
- Whole genome sequencing now allows DNA fingerprinting that links human cases, food and environments.
- That tracing power makes outbreak source identification much more decisive than before.