{"id":14222,"date":"2025-04-09T09:13:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T09:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amerexingredientes.com\/blog\/nueva-normativa-listeria-claves-para-la-industria-alimentaria\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T10:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T10:26:51","slug":"new-regulation-listeria-claves-for-the-food-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amerexingredientes.com\/en\/new-regulation-listeria-claves-for-the-food-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW LISTERIA REGULATION: KEY ISSUES FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing health concerns and advances in microbiological control have prompted the European Union to update its legislation on the regulation of listeria in ready-to-eat foods. In November 2024 the European Commission adopted the new Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895<\/a><\/strong>, which amends Regulation (EC) 2073\/2005<\/strong>, introducing significant changes that will affect many food manufacturers from 1 July 2026. <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Listeria monocytogenes<\/em><\/strong> remains one of the main challenges in the food industry, especially in ready-to-eat products, so in this article we look at what this new regulation is about, which foods are affected, and how companies can prepare to meet these new requirements.<\/p>\n

What did the Listeria regulation support before the change?<\/h2>\n

Prior to the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895<\/a>, existing European legislation – specifically Regulation (EC) 2073\/2005 – allowed a maximum limit of 100 cfu\/g<\/strong> for ready-to-eat foods susceptible to the growth of Listeria monocytogenes<\/em> throughout the shelf-life of the product, provided that this value was not exceeded under reasonably foreseeable storage conditions.<\/p>\n

In many cases, this was applied even without the need to scientifically demonstrate that the food did not support the growth of the bacteria. With the new regulation, the requirements for ensuring the microbiological safety of products are tightened, obliging companies to justify more rigorously the behaviour of the pathogen in their food.<\/p>\n

What does the new European regulation on Listeria provide for?<\/h2>\n

The new European regulation on Listeria, according to Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895<\/a>, states that all ready-to-eat foods <\/strong>that are likely to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes must guarantee the absence of the pathogen throughout their shelf life<\/strong>. In other words, foods that have not been shown to be able to remain below 100 cfu\/g during their shelf life must guarantee the absence of the micro-organism in 25 g of the product.<\/p>\n

However, there is an exception: if the food operator can demonstrate through scientific studies<\/strong> that the level of Listeria monocytogenes<\/em> will not exceed 100 cfu\/g <\/strong>during the shelf-life of the product, this controlled presence will be allowed.<\/p>\n

This measure will not apply to food intended for infants or for special medical purposes.<\/p>\n

This legislative change emphasises the importance of preventive control<\/strong>, process validation and the use of effective technologies for the inhibition or elimination of Listeria<\/em><\/strong> in final products.<\/p>\n

Which foods are considered susceptible to the development of Listeria?<\/h2>\n

A food is considered to be capable of supporting the growth of Listeria monocytogenes if it meets any of the following physico-chemical conditions:<\/p>\n