The Science of Listeria
7 August 2025 - 14 mins
Podcast Series
Show Me the Science with Luke O'Neill
In this episode, suggested by listener Barbara Douglas, Luke dives into a timely and important topic: listeria, the bacteria behind a recent outbreak in Ireland that led to recalls of ready meals and salad products by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
One person has sadly died and nine others have been affected by listeriosis, the illness caused by listeria. Luke explores why this particular outbreak has caught the attention of scientists and public health officials – especially since one batch of reheatable ready meals was implicated, even though heat usually destroys the bacteria.
Luke, who has studied listeria in his own lab, explains how this remarkably resilient bacterium can su...
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