Methods and media for the isolation and cultivation of Listeria monocytogenes from various foods.

Many methods and media currently exist for the detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes. However, the suitability of any specific method or media is influenced by the purpose of the analysis and the type of food being analyzed. Food which are likely to contain high populations of contaminating microorganisms require highly selective media for enumeration. Moreover, media which contain indicator systems are also helpful in distinguishing L. monocytogenes colonies. In contrast, less selective media may be adequate for less contaminated foods.