QMRA models of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods and their potential application in the colombian context : a theoretical approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Microbiological food safety represents a pivotal global challenge due to the potential swift dissemination of food contaminated with microorganisms. Listeria monocytogenes, a Gram-positive bacterium recognized as a foodborne pathogen four decades ago, continues to pose a significant public health concern. The predominant link to Ready-to-Eat (RTE) foods underscores the importance of addressing Listeria monocytogenes risks. Quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) emerges as the reference methodology for managing food safety risks associated with Listeria monocytogenes. While the National Institute of Health in Colombia has played a leading role in advancing QMRA model methodologies, collaborative efforts with academia and research institutions are essential to address existing gaps in QMRA-related information. Given the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE foods in Colombia and the current scarcity of studies published utilizing mathematical models or QMRA approaches, this study aimed to find QMRA models applied to Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods that had the potential to be applied, modified or replicated in the Colombian context. For this purpose, a bibliographic review of scientific articles and national and international technical documents was initially carried out. Subsequently, all the documents found were classified and only those with detailed descriptions of the QMRA models were selected. Finally, the selected documents were analyzed using an applicability matrix, constructed from the mathematical and documentary characteristics of the models. This matrix allowed characterizing each model and selecting in a last group those documents that contain mathematical QMRA models that can be applied to the Colombian context or contain relevant information for the construction and application of these models in our country.