ALTS - Notes such as "heat thoroughly before consumption" for meat products considered ready to eat?

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Oct 2, 2019 - Foods

ALTS - Notes such as "heat thoroughly before consumption" for meat products considered ready to eat?

The ALTS (Working Group of Experts in the Field of Food Hygiene and Foods of Animal Origin) addressed at its 83rd working meeting from June 24 to 26, 2019, the question of how meat products that are labeled as cooked, fried, deep-fried, grilled, or boiled should be handled with indications such as "cook thoroughly before consumption" or "consume only when fully cooked".

According to the decision of the ALTS, the aforementioned indications on meat products that are considered ready to eat based on their presentation are deemed misleading. The indications are not clear and easily understandable. They can even be interpreted as deceptive in individual cases, as they do not clearly convey that consumption without reheating can pose a health risk.

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Source: Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, www.bvl.bund.de