Does your product comply with current laws and regulations for Listeria monocytogenes? Is your ready-to-eat private label product Listeria-proof? How do diverse types of bacteria grow in your product? Our services give you answers to these questions.
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Challenge Testing Listeria & other flora and Baseline measurement Listeria compliance
Challenge testing Listeria monocytogenes
Does your product comply with current laws and regulations for Listeria monocytogenes?
Of all Listeria species, the pathogenic species Listeria monocytogenes poses the greatest threat to the food safety of your product. This potentially harmful bacterium can grow in various refrigerated ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats, smoked fish, sliced fruits and vegetables, meals, and precooked products. Listeria monocytogenes grows at low temperatures, and it can form biofilms, survives in a variety of production environments, and poses a risk of post-contamination of products. This makes the growth and absence of Listeria monocytogenes difficult to control. However, with the right control measures, such as a robust risk assessment, product composition and challenge testing, you can inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and comply with legislation.
According to EU Regulation 2073/2005, the level of Listeria monocytogenes at the end of the shelf life must not exceed 100 colony-forming units per gram (100 cfu/g). If you do not substantiate the growth during the shelf life, Listeria monocytogenes must be absent in 25g during the entire shelf life. In short, if you want to comply with legislation, the substantiation is crucial. We can help you to ensure this and reduce recalls. Our experts can assist you in validating the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in your product or private label brand, whether you are a manufacturer, retailer, distributor, butcher, caterer, or multinational corporation.
Substantiating the growth of Listeria monocytogenes
There are requirements associated with the substantiation of Listeria monocytogenes growth. For example, as a manufacturer you must demonstrate – to the satisfaction of the government – that the product will not exceed the limit of 100 cfu/g throughout its shelf life. A challenge test provides you with this insight. With our expert advice and support, we help you to meet regulatory requirements for controlling Listeria monocytogenes. Beforehand, we use predictive models so that we know whether the test is needed to save you any unnecessary costs.
How does challenge testing work?
During challenge testing, we intentionally infect your product with different strains of Listeria monocytogenes to determine its growth rate or growth potential. The strains are picked specifically for the type of product and according to EU standards. At defined intervals, we measure growth every few days to exclude intermediate growth peaks and abort the test early if necessary. In a growth rate test, we use mathematical formulas to calculate growth for each day of shelf life. We also assess the impact of lower storage temperatures on shelf life. This way, you may even extend the shelf life!
An indicative challenge test first?
We can also provide you with an indicative challenge test. This allows you to first see what Listeria monocytogenes does in your product. With this simpler and cheaper test, you can determine whether your product is a suitable for the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and therefore falls under category 1.2 of EU Regulation 2073/2005 (ready-to-eat products that support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes) or rather under category 1.3 (ready-to-eat products that do not support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes).
If your product falls under category 1.2, you require further measures for the control of Listeria. Our challenge testing team is here to assist you!
Contact us today for professional advice
We are as committed to stop Listeria monocytogenes as you are. Eurofins Food, Feed & Water Testing is the market leader in challenge testing. Our high-quality research methodology gives you the most accurate results. Do you have a ready-to-eat food product? And do you want to control the growth of Listeria monocytogenes during the shelf life? Our Challenge Testing experts are here for you. We perform a risk assessment, supplemented with a challenge test if necessary, and guide you towards a food-safe product that meets all the requirements of EU Regulation 2073/2005. Contact us at +31(0)888 31 03 30 or CCMRA@ftbnl.eurofins.com
Challenge test for different flora
How do diverse types of bacteria grow in your product?
You want to market a product as food-safe as possible. Consumers assume that no pathogens enter the food during food production and that they can consume ready-to-eat food without risk. And as a manufacturer, you want to be sure that spoilage flora will not make your product unappealing. But how do you find out if harmful and undesirable microorganisms can grow in your product during its shelf life or during (unrefrigerated) dispensing? Or how do you ensure that spoilage flora does not grow in response to a recipe modification? Conducting a challenge test for different flora answers these questions.
With our advanced challenge tests, our experts analyse how one or more species of microorganisms grow in your product during the shelf-life period. During this challenge test, we intentionally contaminate the product with a controlled quantity of microorganisms so that we can track their growth. Our high-level examination method gives you the most accurate results. With these comprehensive tests, you will prevent dangerous or undesirable microbial growth during storage.
Food safety is our priority!
Eurofins Food, Feed & Water Testing is a market leader in challenge testing. Our food microbiology experts are here to help you ensure that the products you market not only comply with current legislation but are also entirely safe for consumption, without compromising the taste and quality of your product. If you want in-depth insight into food safety throughout the shelf life of your products, contact us today at +31(0)888 31 03 30 or CCMRA@ftbnl.eurofins.com
Baseline measurement Listeria compliance for manufacturers
Complying with listeria control regulations in 7 steps
How do you comply with the regulations for the control of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat products throughout the shelf-life period?
With a solid substantiation, you demonstrate that the growth of Listeria monocytogenes during the shelf-life remains below the critical limit of 100 cfu/g in your product.
Don't you have a solid substantiation yet? Take a look at this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: 0 measurement
Using a checklist, interview your QA employee (live or digital). Find out where you stand, what substantiation and data you already have.
Step 2: Data analysis of product characteristics
From analysis results of factors that determine growth, such as pH, salt, dry matter, organic acids, storage temperature, packaging and shelf life.
Step 3: Determine growth potential of Listeria monocytogenes
Classifying your products into smart product groups. We determine the 'worst case' product per product group using predictive models. We perform a challenge test on this product only. This saves you costs.
Step 4: Challenge test on the worst-case product
We perform a challenge test on 1 batch when the growth potential is below 0.5 log during shelf life on the 'worst case' product from the product group. Is the growth potential higher than 0.5 log during shelf life? Then a challenge test follows on 3 batches. This ensures that your product is safe and complies with regulations.
Step 5: Factory environmental monitoring
We compile a monitoring programme for your production site based on the requirements, such as UGent and ACS standards (Belgium). In this, we differentiate the risks per room and take into account food contact materials, employees and water and air flows.
Step 6: Monitoring plan for incoming raw materials and the finished product
Appropriate to the risks, according to the requirements in Regulation (EU) 2073/2005.
Step 7: A complete Listeria control plan
With this plan, you demonstrate to the applicable authorities that you have carried out a thorough study on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in your ready-to-eat product. One less thing to worry about!
Want to know more?
Eurofins Food, Feed, Water Benelux performs the challenge tests under accreditation RvA L508 and BELAC-179 (ISO 17025:2017) according to the EURL Lm GUIDANCE DOCUMENT. We take care of the entire process for you, from A to Z. Contact us today on +31(0)888 31 03 30 or CCMRA@ftbnl.eurofins.com