Listeria is a food borne bacterium that causes an infection known as
listeriosis. The main reason that Listeria is more deadly and harder to get rid of than other food borne diseases is because Listeria can grow at a temperature of about
32 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that food can't be kept completely safe in a refrigerator, which is usually about 40 degrees F.
What are the main properties of Listeria?:
- It is found everywhere (see "Where Can Listeria Be Found?")
- Occasionally it can be fatal
- It can be cured relatively easily with antibiotics, just like other infections
- It can grow at surprisingly low temperatures, unlike most food borne diseases