Listeria monocytogenes remains a leading driver of high impact recalls in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. Equipment and environmental reservoirs, especially drainage systems, can support multi-year persistence via biofilm formation and reseeding events.
This article synthesizes current industry guidance and literature and outlines design and operational practices that use hygienic drainage systems, including T304/T316 stainless steel drains and piping, as a key engineering control for Listeria risk reduction.