Listeria monocytogenes--a current dilemma.

Since 1985, Listeria monocytogenes has gone from being an organism known to only a handful of microbiologists to being a fully recognized food-borne pathogen of concern. With nearly unprecedented speed and vigor, food processors, particularly in the dairy industry, and regulatory agencies have reacted in concert to resolve unanswered questions about Listeria so as to assure the safety of the food supply. This report summarizes what has been learned and what is being done.