Growth of Listeria monocytogenes is promoted at low temperature when exogenous unsaturated fatty acids are incorporated in its membrane.

Listeria monocytogenes is a psychrotrophic food-borne pathogen mostly associated with consumption of ready-to eat foods. Due to its high prevalence in raw materials, it is fundamental to control its growth at low temperature. In lipid-rich products, fatty acids can be heterogeneously distributed in the food matrix and can be present in the environment immediately surrounding the pathogen.