Listeria monocytogenes is especially dangerous because, unlike most bacteria, it:
a.Is destroyed outright by refrigeration at 41°F, making date marking unnecessary
b.Multiplies only above 135°F, thriving inside hot-held soups and brown gravies
c.Cannot survive inside refrigerated delicatessen meats or cheeses
d.Grows at refrigeration temperatures and threatens pregnant women
Explanation
Listeria monocytogenes keeps growing at cold refrigeration temperatures and is dangerous to pregnant women, causing miscarriage, as well as to older adults and immunocompromised people. Cold holding at 41°F slows it but does not kill it, which is exactly why ready-to-eat TCS food is date-marked and discarded. It is not a hot-holding organism, and deli meats, soft cheeses, and smoked seafood are its most common ready-to-eat vehicles.
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