On December 4, 2024, the European Commission adopted a revision on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods.

The amendment modifies criterion 1.2b to require that a 25 g sample of ready-to-eat food must be free of Listeria monocytogenes throughout its shelf life and not only when the product leaves the manufacturing establishment. This applies to food products that may support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and companies are required to comply with the standard if they are unable to demonstrate that the pathogen will not exceed 100 colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g).

This amendment will come into effect in July 2026.

For more details see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2895/oj