Post-packaging pasteurization has become an important intervention for reducing the Listeria monocytogenes hazard in packages of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products, as well as extending the shelf life of RTE products.
This hazard is specific to RTE products that are post-lethality exposed to the environment (i.e., the casing is removed) before packaging, because of the potential for L. monocytogenescontamination to the exposed product during the packaging process. Because RTE products are not expected to be reheated before consumption, any L. monocytogenescontamination to the exposed products is likely to continue to grow in the package during refrigerated storage.