Oct 2, 2026 - Foods
EFSA survey: microbiological safety of plant-based alternative products
Plant-based alternatives to milk, meat and fish are now firmly established in retail. But what about their microbiological safety? A survey by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides up-to-date insights on this.
As part of the study, 1,533 samples of ready-to-eat plant-based milk, meat and fish substitute products collected from retail in 15 EU countries were microbiologically tested.
Microbiological quality overall good
The results overall show good microbiological quality of the products tested. Nevertheless, some anomalies were detected:
Listeria monocytogenes was detected in one sample.
Salmonella spp. were not found in any of the samples tested.
Occasionally elevated levels of Bacillus cereus were detected.
In individual products there were exceedances of hygiene indicators.
Thus, while the results present an overall positive picture, they also make clear that plant-based substitute products can pose microbiological risks.
Plant-based does not automatically mean microbiologically risk-free
Another aspect deserves particular attention: referring to scientific findings, the survey points out that the composition of certain plant-based substitute products can promote the growth of pathogens.
In addition, some microorganisms or their resistant forms can survive heat treatments. Therefore, effective hygiene management along the manufacturing process is of great importance, especially for ready-to-eat products.
Microbiological testing provides assurance
For manufacturers of plant-based milk, meat and fish alternatives, regular microbiological testing is an important part of quality assurance. In addition to relevant pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes or Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus as well as suitable hygiene and process indicators can also be taken into account.
The BAV Institute supports food companies in the microbiological testing and evaluation of their products – fast & reliable.
Do you have questions about the microbiological testing of plant-based substitute products?
Feel free to contact us. Together we will compile a testing scope tailored to your product and your questions.
Source: EFSA survey on the microbiological contamination of ready-to-eat plant-based milk, meat and fish substitute products; original publication: EFSA.