Abstract
The influence that consumers have on the exposure assessment due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes
in lettuce was studied. Four stages of the food chain were considered: transport home, storage, handling
and washing. A survey provided information about family behaviour classified as: one adult living
alone (n = 77), one adult with children (n = 21), two adults (n = 75), two adults with children (n = 139)
and seniors (n = 157). Multiple correspondence analyses revealed only slight differences between one adult
living alone (with or without children) and the other groups. The simulation results highlighted that in all
groups, transportation and storage at home did not increase contamination. In the handling stage,
Listeria was able to increase an average of 1 log CFU g
1, and in washing, consumers were able to
reduce it to the values at retail. Finally, sensitivity analysis demonstrated that washing and surface contamination
were the practices that had most influence on the risk.
