The relative negative surface charge and hydrophobicity of four bacterial strains were evaluated by gravity flow and spin column methods. There was no significant difference between the two methods, indicating that spin column chromatography is an acceptable alternative method of determining cell surface charge or hydrophobicity. Six strains of Listeria monocytogenes which exhibited rough colony appearance were evaluated for surface charge and hydrophobicity and their ability to contaminate beef muscle tissue. With one exception, all of the rough strains exhibited greater net negative surface charge and reduced ability to contaminate beef during the initial stages of attachment. Since greater net negative cell surface charge has been positively correlated to attachment to beef tissue surfaces, the reduction in attachment exhibited by the rough strains was interpreted as an indication that attachment to beef tissue cannot be solely explained by cell surface charge.