The current Listeriosis outbreak in Canada is a stark reminder of the high fatality rate associated with this rare food-borne infection. The incident highlights the need for vigilance in the food industry, demonstrating that even the most stringent food preparation safety protocols can be breached.

Microbiological diagnostic specialist Lab M provides a range of culture media designed specifically for the enrichment and isolation of Listeria species from food. The range covers FDA, ISO 11290 and USDA requirements and features Harlequin chromogenic media, a highly selective, state-of-the-art detection and presumptive identification system.

Lab M's range for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes includes: Fraser Broth^PLUS and Half Fraser Broth^PLUS, Harlequin™ Listeria Chromogenic Agar, Listeria Isolation Medium (Oxford), PALCAM Agar and Listeria Monocytogenes Blood Agar.

The Harlequin™ Listeria Chromogenic Agar (Agosti & Ottaviani formulation) was the first chromogenic dehydrated Listeria medium as specified by ISO 11290. Designed for food industry applications, it can eliminate or reduce the need for subculture and confirmatory biochemical tests, providing a rapid, accurate means of isolating and enumerating Listeria monocytogenes.

Fraser Broth^PLUS and Half Fraser Broth^PLUS are designed to give improved results over traditional formulations and, like Lab M's complete Fraser Broth range, meet all the specifications of the ISO 11290 standard for the detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes.

Lab M's portfolio of culture media for Listeria detection in food samples is completed with secondary isolation media, including PALCAM Agar, Listeria Isolation Medium (Oxford) and LMBA, and a choice of Listeria Enrichment Broths.