Human listeriosis is a relatively rare but serious disease, primarily manifesting as meningitis and sepsis in adults, children, and newborns, and as miscarriages in pregnant women, with a high case-fatality rate of between 20% and 30%. Consumption of contaminated food is the primary route of transmission. The disease typically occurs as sporadic cases, but small outbreaks and even full-scale epidemics have also occurred in most industrialized countries. Over the past ten years, numerous control measures for Listeria monocytogenes have been implemented in production and distribution for products susceptible to contamination. During this same period, a significant decrease in the number of cases of the disease has been observed, currently estimated at 300–400 cases annually.