This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author BAA designed the study, performed the statistical analysis wrote the protocol and the first draft of the manuscript. Author MKG collect the data of the study. Author AMA managed the literature searches and arrange tables and graphs. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

This study was undertaken to detect the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in frozen food. A total of 200 different food samples were collected from Basrah markets, southern Iraq, during September 2015 to March 2016. These samples included frozen fish, frozen burger, frozen chicken and worker’s hands swabs, 50 each. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to evaluate the presence of Listeria monocytogenes by using of inlB specific gene. The PCR results revealed that only four samples (7.27%) were contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. In conclusion frozen food may carry a dangerous type of bacteria and lead to human illness.