Food News

On 20 November 2024, the new Regulation (EU) 2024/2895 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It sets new requirements for microbiological criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods that may support the growth of these bacteria.

The risk of foodborne listeriosis depends on the susceptibility of the consumer and the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the food. Infants and persons with weakened immune defence should not consume food containing this pathogen. For healthy consumers, it is scientifically recognised that concentrations above 100 CFU/g are harmful to health. Ready-to-eat foods that may exceed this limit during their shelf life therefore represent a risk category. Therefore, the EU has tightened the microbiological criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods: Regulation (EU) 2024/2895 was published on 20 November 2024. It amends Regulation (EC) No. 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods.

What is new is that the limit value of 100 CFU/g for ready-to-eat foods that may support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes (category 1.2) will only be maintained if the manufacturer can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the authority that this value will not be exceeded throughout the entire shelf life. This can be done, for example, by setting intermediate limits during the process which are low enough to ensure that the limit of 100 CFU/g is not exceeded at the end of the shelf life. If this is not the case, the more stringent limit value of ‘not detectable in 25 g in five subsamples’ is applied. This limit also applies to the end of the shelf life. Previously, this only applied up to the level of the manufacturer (‘before the food has left the direct control of the food business operator [...]’).

For all other foods (categories 1.1 and 1.3), the previous limits remain in place.

The amendments significantly increase the requirements, as it will be difficult to rule out the complete absence of Listeria monocytogenes in all raw materials and production environments. This will be particularly challenging for small and medium-sized companies, which will face the risk of product recalls if the limit is exceeded. The new requirements come into force on 01/07/2026.

YOUR PLUS: If you have any questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your customer relation manager or regional sales representative.

Author: Dr. Katja Fuchs, AGROLAB GROUP