FDA Issues Guidance for Listeria in RTE Foods

FDA has issued a draft compliance policy guidance on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, and draft guidance for the industry on controlling the food-borne pathogen in refrigerated or frozen RTE foods. The agency is inviting public comments on both.

In addition, FDA announced it will convene a March 28 public meeting to discuss and share information with stakeholders about the new guidance.

The draft compliance policy guide is intended to provide clear policy and regulatory guidance for FDA staff regarding L. monocytogenes in certain foods. In particular, the document sets forth an enforcement policy concerning L. monocytogenes in RTE foods that support its growth and RTE foods that do not support its growth. The document describes the characteristics of RTE foods that do and do not support the growth of L. monocytogenes and identifies examples of foods that fall into each category.

The new guidance is expected to provide a public-health benefit by enabling FDA to focus inspection resources on food products that pose the highest risk of listeriosis to public health.