Cornell University
Library
Cornell UniversityLibrary

eCommons

Help
Log In(current)
  1. Home
  2. Cornell University Graduate School
  3. Cornell Theses and Dissertations
  4. Reducing Listeria Contamination in Produce Packinghouses Through Agent-Based Modeling

Reducing Listeria Contamination in Produce Packinghouses Through Agent-Based Modeling

File(s)
BarnettNeefs_cornell_0058O_11345.pdf (8.05 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://doi.org/10.7298/esq7-ef03
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/110765
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Barnett-Neefs, Cecil Wilfried Esther Channah
Abstract

The complex environment of fresh produce packinghouses can facilitate the spread of pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, which can enter a facility and establish itself within harborage sites. From here, food being shipped from the packinghouse is at risk of being contaminated with L. monocytogenes, endangering public health. Thus, reducing pathogen presence and cross-contamination within these facilities are crucial. The studies presented here demonstrate the development of Agent-Based Models of Listeria contamination dynamics in packinghouses and the analysis of contamination behavior. These models were used to compare the effectiveness of different corrective actions on a short-term scale, as well as observe persistent contamination and the effectiveness of corrective actions on reducing it. Overall, results indicate that both data-informed corrective actions and reduction of Listeria in incoming raw produce are effective in the short-term, but only the former produces long-term improvement in controlling Listeria in the packinghouse environment.

Description
169 pages
Date Issued
2021-12
Keywords
Agent-Based Model
•
Corrective Actions
•
Listeria
•
Packinghouse
•
Persistence
•
Produce
Committee Chair
Miojevic, Renata Ivanek
Committee Member
Wiedmann, Martin
Degree Discipline
Food Science and Technology
Degree Name
M.S., Food Science and Technology
Degree Level
Master of Science
Type
dissertation or thesis
Link(s) to Catalog Record
https://newcatalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/15312619

Site Statistics | Help

About eCommons | Policies | Terms of use | Contact Us

copyright © 2002-2026 Cornell University Library | Privacy | Web Accessibility Assistance