Presence of Listeria spp. in whole eggs and wash water samples from Ontario and Quebec

Abstract Whole shell egg and wash water samples from 7 and 10 egg-grading stations in Quebec and Ontario, respectively, were analyzed for the presence of Listeria spp. In Quebec and Ontario, out of a total of 50 composite whole shell egg samples, only two and one samples, respectively, were found to be positive for Listeria innocua . No Listeria spp. were found in the interior of the shell egg samples. In contrast, 4 out of 10 (40%) and 2 of 9 (22·2%) wash water samples analyzed in Quebec and Ontario, respectively, were positive for L. innocua .