D. Walsh et al., COMPARISON OF SELECTIVE AND NONSELECTIVE ENRICHMENT MEDIA FOR THE ISOLATION OF LISTERIA SPECIES FROM RETAIL FOODS, Journal of food safety, 18(2), 1998, pp. 85-99
Enrichment in a nonselective medium, Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) was
compared with selective enrichment in University of Vermont Medium (UV
MI and UVMII) for the isolation of Listeria spp. from foods. The selec
tivity of the 2 types of media for the pathogenic strain, Listeria mon
ocytogenes, was also compared. In total, 221 food samples including be
efburgers, ham, turkey, lettuce broccoli, carrots, coleslaw: salads, f
ish and ice cream, were purchased from local retail outlets and examin
ed for the presence of Listeria species and L, monocytogenes using bot
h enrichment media. Listeria species were detected in 57 (25.8%) sampl
es using UVM, and 56 (25.3%) using BPW. L. monocytogenes was present i
n 33(14.9%) samples enriched in UVM and in 29(13.1%) samples enriched
in BPW. The advantages and disadvantages of selective and nonselective
enrichment for detection of listeria species from a range of foods ar
e discussed.