Why proactive Listeria management is critical, and how Kersia UK helps food & beverage manufacturers stay ahead of the risk.
Listeria monocytogenes may not make headlines as often as other foodborne pathogens, but it remains one of the most persistent, dangerous, and costly threats in the food industry today.
Despite being relatively rare, Listeria is responsible for over 150 hospitalisations and around 20 deaths each year across the UK and Ireland. For food producers, a Listeria outbreak can mean devastating consequences, including full product recalls, reputational damage, loss of consumer trust, and even the shutdown of operations.
Why is Listeria so challenging?
Unlike many pathogens, Listeria can thrive in cold, damp environments, even within refrigeration units, and is notoriously hard to eliminate once established. It can form biofilms and persist in hard-to-reach areas of production environments, making it a silent but serious threat.
This makes proactive control measures absolutely vital.
How Kersia UK Helps Safeguard Your Business
At Kersia UK, we understand the unique challenges facing food and beverage manufacturers when it comes to managing Listeria risk. That’s why our expert technical team, composed of microbiologists and hygiene specialists, works closely with customers to implement a structured and science-based approach.
Our 5 Point Plan for Listeria Control:
Preventing entry into high hygiene areas – Physical barriers, hygiene zoning, and raw material control.
Infrastructure integrity – Focussing on hygienic design of equipment and infrastructure, preventing harbourage by identifying and addressing cracks, drains, and niches.
Cross-contamination control – Equipment segregation, people and material flow management.
Effective cleaning & disinfection – Targeted cleaning protocols using the right Environmental monitoring & verification – Regular swabbing and analysis to detect risks before they become problems.
Beyond Plans: Real Support, On Site and Online
Kersia provide a full suite of practical tools and services, including:
Custom pathogen testing & sampling kits
Digital hygiene management systems
Accredited training in Listeria and hygiene (Levels 2, 3 & 4)
Rapid-response cleaning and disinfection strategies during incidents
Our Technical Service & Training Manager, David Childs, reflects on this partnership-based approach:
“Working closely with technical and hygiene teams across the food and beverage sector is something I genuinely value. It’s incredibly rewarding to help our customers deepen their understanding of Listeria control and guide them in designing and implementing robust, site-specific Listeria Management Plans. Whether through remote sessions or hands-on, on-site consultancy, or via Kersia UK’s diverse training offerings, I take immense pride in contributing to stronger food safety standards.”
A Trusted Partner in Food Safety
At Kersia UK, we pride ourselves on being more than a hygiene supplier, we are your technical partner in risk reduction, brand protection, and consumer safety.
Ensuring safe and sustainable connections across the food chain with expert hygiene solutions.
