Detection and characterization of listeria species from market meat

Meat is considered as most nutritious diet for human beings as it is rich in most of the nutrients required by man. Meat production in India is estimated at 6.04 million tones, contributing 2.2 per cent of the total world meat production. The share of bovine meat in the total meat production in India is about 60.00 per cent as against small ruminants (15.0 %), pigs (10.0 %) and poultry (12.0 %). Meat industry in India has great economic potential but received very limited attention for its growth and development. The export of meat and meat products including poultry products has gone up from Rs. 2165.62 crore in 2004-05 to Rs. 33128.3 crore in 2014-15, with an increase of almost 60.0 per cent, which is quite significant. India has made rapid strides in meat exports with covering about 50 countries of the world . Production and supply of meat for local consumption is one of the most neglected and poorly organized sectors in our country. Though the consumption of meat increased, hygiene and quality aspects have remained unchanged. Listeriosis is one of the important food-borne bacterial zoonotic infection worldwide caused by Listeria spp.