High hydrostatic pressure kinetics (D, z and k values) of aerobic bacteria (AB) and Listeria monocytogenes inactivation were determined in brain heart infusion broth (BHIB) and foods. The D and k values of L. monocytogenes ranged from 12.1 to 1.14 min and from 0.1907 to 2.0202 min(-1), respectively in BHIB at a pressure range 200-700 MPa. D values were about 3.04 and 2.43 min for AB and L. monocytogenes, respectively, in milk at 600 MPa, 2.13 and 1.52 min, respectively, in peach juice, and 1.24 and 0.87 min, respectively, in orange juice. The k values for L. monocytogenes in orange juice (ranged from 0.8024 to 2.6471 min(-1)) were greater than BHIB (ranged from 0.1907 to 2.0202 min(-1)), peach juice (ranged from 0.3733 to 1.5151 min(-1)) and milk (ranged from 0.2096 to 0.0.9477 min(-1)) at same pressure. The z values of L. monocytogenes were 578, 480, 506 and 576 for L. monocytogenes in milk, BHIB, peach juice and orange juice, respectively. There were significant (p < 0.01) difference among kinetic values of AB and L. monocytogenes inactivation in broth and foods. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.