Amendment to Listeria criteria for food category 1.2: what you need to know
As a result, the European Union has aligned the Listeria criteria with the International Codex Alimentarius. The amendment applies only to food category 1.2: ready-to-eat foods that can serve as a growth medium for Listeria monocytogenes. The standards for the other categories—namely, ready-to-eat infant formula, ready-to-eat food for medical use, and ready-to-eat foods that cannot serve as a breeding ground—remain unchanged.
Until now, Listeria was not permitted to be detected in 25g within this category before the food left the direct control of the food business operator that produced it. After the transition period, Listeria must not be detected in 25g throughout the entire shelf life unless a study (in Belgium and the Netherlands, challenge tests are used for this study, among other methods) is approved by the authorities (FAVV/NVWA) that demonstrates the standard of <100 CFU/g at the end of the shelf life will not be exceeded.
A transition period gives operators time to implement new testing protocols and take any necessary measures before the legislation takes effect. This will take effect on July 1, 2026. Our consultants, in collaboration with our Listeria team, can assist you with this.
