Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne pathogen which has been associated with disease outbreaks from contaminated ready-to-eat meat products due to the improper decontamination of the equipment and food-processing areas. As this bacterium maintains the ability to grow at the low temperatures used in food-processing plants, this study was undertaken to determine the bactericidal efficacy of liquid disinfectants and the effect that low temperatures have on their efficacy. A standardized disinfectant testing method, the quantitative carrier test 2 (QCT-2), was used to assess the bactericidal activity of five commercially available disinfectants and four disinfectants currently used in Canadian food-processing plants at both room temperature and refrigeration temperature. The disinfectants tested varied in their ability to inactivate L. monocytogenes; with Ethanol, VigorOX, Divosan Plus, Oxonia Active, and SU393 performing the best for use in food-processing plants. Little to no significant difference in efficacy was observed for these disinfectants at refrigeration temperature compared to room temperature.