A paper has recently been published in the peer-reviewed journal Food Control by Dr Nicola Wilson, Karin Goodburn and Dr Ken Johnston describing a method of membrane filtration to enumerate low levels of Listeria spp including Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) on salad leaf. The paper is described in the abstract and is an enhancement of the legally recognised reference method (BS EN ISO 11290-2:2017), which is insufficiently sensitive to enumerate the low numbers of Lm in most commercially prepared leaf salads. more sensitive method is required to evaluate the impact of process changes and the effect of Listeria control mechanisms in […]

The first phase of the Government’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) finally started to come into effect on 31 January. Uncertainties and concerns over BTOM’s implementation for EU-GB trade were the catalyst for a letter sent to Steve Barclay, EFRA Secretary of State from the SPS Certification Working Group. In the letter the Group, which comprises some 30 trade and professional organisations (representing £100bn of the UK’s food supply, production and distribution chain, enforcers and port health), detailed 16 different concerns, and proposed solutions around four issues: BCPs, groupage, EHCs and Authorised Operator Schemes. Concerns included the lack of details […]

The EU is consulting only until 8 May on proposed changes to L. monocytogenes (Lm) legislation. This would require Lm to be Not Detected (ND) throughout life in 25g if the Competent Authority is not satisfied with a product’s shelf life basis (criterion 1.2b). This criterion applies to ready to eat foods supporting the growth of Lm but currently states ND at the point of last control by the producer. The industry position, substantiated by epidemiological evidence, is that the current law is effective when it is enforced including commercially, that ND is not based on science, will lead to […]