Includes bibliographical references.

Cases of listeriosis appear to be predominantly associated with ready-to-eat products. FAO and WHO have undertaken a risk assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods, prepared and reviewed by an international team of scientists. Input was received from several international fora including expert consultations and Codex Alimentarius committee meetings as well as via public and peer review. This technical report provides complete documentation of the risk assessment, the approaches taken, the data and methodology used, and the results. It also contains four example assessments addressing the risk of listeriosis associated with fresh milk, ice cream, fermented meats and cold-smoked fish. These products were selected to represent typical classes of ready-to-eat products.