Thermal resistance of Listeria spp. in milk

The thermal resistance of one strain each of Listeria ivanovii , L. seeligeri , and L. welshimeri and three L. monocytogenes strains was determined in raw and sterile milk. Listeria spp. suspended in milk at concentrations of 1 × 10 cells/ml were heated at temperatures ranging from 52.2 to 71.1°C for various contact times. The heat resistance of L. monocytogenes appeared somewhat greater than that of the other Listeria spp. in both milks, but the difference was not statistically significant (α = 0.05). High-temperature, short-time processing is adequate for pasteurization of raw milk.