| Summary: | <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> is a foodborne pathogen. A source of infection can be artisanal cheeses. Identification of the <i>Listeria</i> species is important for the protection of public health and the food industry. This study aimed to examine artisanal cheeses for the presence of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> and the effectiveness of the MALDI-TOF MS method in the identification of the <i>L. monocytogenes</i> isolates. A total of 370 samples of artisanal cheeses were examined. <i>L. monocytogenes</i> was found in 23 cheese samples (6.2%). The reliability of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> identification achieved by MALDI-TOF MS was varied, and the vast majority of the isolates (27/32) were identified only to the secure genus, probable species level. This study showed that (i) the occurrence of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in the artisanal cheeses was at a higher level than that in the other EU countries, (ii) the standard of species identification of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> isolates from artisanal cheeses achieved by MALDI-TOF MS was not satisfactory and (iii) the presence of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> in artisanal cheeses remains a problem with regard to the food safety criterion and a potential public health risk.
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