LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES BACTERIUM IN THE AREA OF MOSTAR: OCCURRENCE IN VEGETABLES AND HEALTH RISKS

This research focuses on the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes and its occurrence in vegetables, specifically, tomatoes and peppers, and the risks this bacterium poses to health. The research included laboratory analysis of 16 samples of tomatoes and peppers, as well as survey research in the area of ​​the City of Mostar. Based on the survey questionnaire, the respondents showed their knowledge about the occurrence of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes in food and their general knowledge about listeriosis. Laboratory analysis consists of two parts. The first part refers to the laboratory analysis of the samples conducted in the Federal Agro-Mediterranean Institute laboratory in collaboration with its employees. The second part refers to an additional laboratory analysis conducted in the Veterinary Institute of Herzegovina–Neretva Canton laboratory in Mostar. This laboratory research aimed to establish whether the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was present in the samples of vegetables examined in the analysis. All the vegetable samples were chosen randomly from four different locations in the area of Mostar. Also, the analysis included the examination of the washed and unwashed tomatoes and peppers. After conducting the laboratory research, it was established that the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was not found in the samples used, which means all the examination results were negative.