Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic, non spore-forming, motile, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium. It expresses a beta hemolysin which causes destruction of red blood cells due to its catalase-positive and oxidase-negative characteristics. As a part of the pathogenic bacterias, Listeria monocytogenes can grow and reproduce inside the host's cells and is one of the most virulent foodborne pathogens. With the D-galactose residues on its surface, Listeria monocytogenes can translocate past the intestinal membrane and into the body by attach to D-galactose receptors on the host cell walls. If ingestion of contaminated food such as unpasteurized dairy or raw foods, Listeria monocytogenes can infect the brain, spinal cord membranes and/or the bloodstream of the host.