Effects of surface pasteurization on inactivation of Listeria innocua were investigated. Surface temperature, monitored during post-packaging pasteurization, was used to predict the lethality of L. monocytogenes. Temperatures reached 70 o C for lean and fat sausages within 9 min of treatment. An inoculation study validated the efficacy of post-processing and the thermal lethality of L. monocytogenes. Pre-cooked sausage and ham, inoculated with approximately 10 7 CFU/cm 2 of L. innocua, were heated to a surface temperature of 70 o C. Numbers of L. innocua were reduced by 7 log on surface-inoculated sausage. Guidelines for safe, ready-to-eat meat products are provided for small scale meat processors.