Abstract
<jats:p>Listeriosis, a severe foodborne disease primarily caused by Listeria monocytogenes, continues to pose a major public health challenge in Europe, particularly among pregnant women, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised patients. Despite advancements in food safety and monitoring systems, the incidence of invasive human listeriosis has shown an upward trend in the last fifteen years. This review synthesizes recent epidemiological evidence and outbreak data from 2010 to 2024, emphasizing large-scale events associated with animal-derived and ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products. Notable outbreaks include those linked to blood sausage in Germany (2018–2019; 112 cases), stuffed pork in Spain (2019; 207 cases), and smoked fish products in Denmark and Switzerland. The persistence and recurrence of L. monocytogenes within food-processing environments, facilitated by its ability to survive at low temperatures, tolerate salt and acidity, and form biofilms on industrial surfaces, underscore the difficulty of eradicating this pathogen from the food chain. Data from EFSA and ECDC between 2019 and 2023 further indicate increasing notification rates across the EU, reaching the highest annual totals recorded since surveillance began. Strengthened genomic surveillance, improved hygiene practices, and coordinated outbreak response systems are essential for controlling L. monocytogenes contamination and minimizing its public health impact.</jats:p>