Listeria monocytogenes in Cooked Chicken: Detection of an Outbreak in the UK (2016-2017) and Analysis of L. monocytogenes from Unrelated Monitoring of Foods (2013-2017)

What is it about?

Whole genome sequencing was applied to isolates of Listeria monocytogenes from cooked chicken from routine monitoring performed in England. An outbreak of 5 cases in England and Scotland was detected which was associated with cooked chicken consumption. Cultures of L. monocytogenes from routine monitoring of this food identified further links to cases of human listeriosis. This data and a review of the literature indicated that the major food-poisoning risk from consumption of cooked chicken is listeriosis. With the advent of the more widespread application of genetic analysis of L. monocytogenes, there is an urgent need to consolidate both national and international repositories of data (including that from routine monitoring) such that public health investigators, including those investigating outbreaks, can use these data to rapidly identify and implement interventions in the food chain. The inability to do this represents missed opportunities for the control of this disease.

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