Transfer of Listeria innocua from contaminated compost and irrigation water to lettuce leaves

► This work was the first published about transfer of Listeria innocua from the field to the vegetables. ► Contamination of L. innocua on lettuce via soil ocurred during the growth process. ► The pathogen survived on surface leaves when were irrigated by sprinkling. ► The pathogen survived for >9 weeks in soil exposed to outdoor conditions.