Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium able to grow even at refrigeration temperatures, a property that sets it apart from many other pathogens, and it can contaminate pet food, particularly [raw](/glossary/raw) products and some [wet foods](/glossary/wet-food). In animals, infection is less common than salmonellosis but still possible, and the main concern is zoonotic: human listeriosis is severe, especially in pregnant women, infants, older adults and immunocompromised people, so handling contaminated raw food can expose the household (FDA; EFSA). Recalls of raw pet products have followed Listeria detection. The organism tolerates cold but is destroyed by adequate cooking, so extruded kibble made by [extrusion](/glossary/extrusion) is rarely affected unless recontaminated after processing, which underlines the role of [cross-contamination](/glossary/cross-contamination) control. Manufacturers monitor the production environment closely, because Listeria can form biofilms on surfaces and persist for long periods, a challenge addressed through [HACCP](/glossary/haccp). For raw diets, maintaining the cold chain and rigorous bowl hygiene reduce the risk, and separating raw pet food from ready-to-eat human food in storage is a sensible extra precaution. The marker: Listeria's cold-tolerance makes refrigeration alone insufficient against it, which is why it features prominently among the raw-feeding and [product recall](/glossary/product-recall) cautions in the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

Petipedia · Editorial team

General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.