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Apr 26, 2024 - Foods

Challenge tests with Listeria monocytogenes required

These tests provide information on whether Listeria monocytogenes can proliferate in the food. This information is of great importance for manufacturers of ready-to-eat, highly perishable foods for two reasons:

• Every food business operator must ensure within the scope of their due diligence that their products pose no health risk until the end of their shelf life. Since Listeria monocytogenes is widespread in the environment, contamination with this bacterium cannot be completely ruled out during the production of many foods. It is all the more important to know whether Listeria monocytogenes can proliferate in these foods during their shelf life. If the proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes is promoted, the level of hygiene and safety during production must be even higher.
• Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria requires compliance with certain food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in Annex I Chapter 1. If ready-to-eat foods promote the proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria monocytogenes must not be detectable in 5 samples of a batch on the manufacturing level in 25 g each (Criterion 1.2 in Annex I Chapter 1). If this food safety criterion is not met or exceeded and the ready-to-eat food is already on the market, a public recall is possible.
  However, if the ready-to-eat food does NOT promote the proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes, it is sufficient under this regulation if the food safety criterion of 100 CFU/g in 5 sub-samples of the batch on the manufacturing level is not exceeded.

For ready-to-eat foods with a pH value ≤ 4.4 or an aw value ≤ 0.92, the food safety criterion of 100 CFU/g applies immediately at the manufacturing level. The same applies if the ready-to-eat products have a pH value of ≤ 5.0 and at the same time have an aw value ≤ 0.94.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we conduct these investigations regularly. We provide you with fast and reliable results.

For questions, our customer advisors are very happy to assist you.

Source: 

BAV Institute