The effects of inoculum level, growth temperature and culture age on the attachment of Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes to beef tissue surfaces were evaluated. An increase in inoculum level resulted in an increase in the number of attached cells for both bacteria which was proportional to the increase in inoculum. Bacteria grown at 23°C attached in higher numbers flVO5) to fat tissue than bacteria grown at 37°C or at 37°C followed by 24 h at 5°C. Growth temperature did not affect attachment to lean tissue for either bacterium. Overnight cultures of both bacteria attached in greater numbers 0VO.05) to both tissue surfaces than cultures incubated for 66 h, with a difference of > 1 loglo cycle between 18- and 66-h L. monocytogenes cultures.