Viable but Nonculturable Listeria monocytogenes May Resuscitate After Transfer From Stainless Steel Biofilms to Vacuum-Packed Smoked Herring

), suggesting VBNC induction. Treated and untreated biofilms were then brought into contact with sterile smoked-salted herring pieces to simulate cross-contamination. L. monocytogenes populations were transferred in all cases, with viable populations reaching approximately 4-6 log GE/g for untreated biofilms and around 3 log GE/g for QA-treated biofilms, where most populations were in a VBNC state. During vacuum-packed refrigerated storage (7 days at 4 °C followed by 14 days at 8 °C), populations on herring surfaces progressively regained culturability, with cultivable populations increasing from low initial levels to 5-7 log CFU/g by the end of the product shelf life (21 days) These findings show that VBNC L. monocytogenes populations present on food-contact surfaces can be transferred to RTE seafood and regain culturability during storage. This highlights a potential contamination pathway and supports the need to consider VBNC populations in hygiene monitoring and risk assessment strategies for vacuum-packed foods.