Which of the following organisms was NOT among the top three causes of raw milk outbreaks (2007-2012)?

• A. Listeria monocytogenes
• B. Campylobacter
• C. Shiga toxin producing E. coli
• D. Salmonella

Answer: (A)

Outbreak etiologies in raw milk reflect how often each pathogen is transmitted through unpasteurized dairy. For 2007–2012, the data show that Campylobacter, Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC), and Salmonella were responsible for the majority of raw milk outbreaks. Listeria monocytogenes, while a serious pathogen in dairy and other foods, did not rank in the top three for raw milk outbreaks during that timeframe. This pattern likely stems from the higher incidence and exposure risk of Campylobacter, STEC, and Salmonella in raw milk consumption, whereas Listeria outbreaks related to dairy tend to involve different product categories or production environments.