According to FSA, its Foodborne Disease Strategy for 2010 to 2015 identifies Listeria monocytogenes as a priority for action, as it is the leading cause of death from foodborne disease. Therefore, finding ways to lower the exposure of vulnerable consumers to listeria in ready-to-eat foods remains important.
FSA noted that more work is required to understand the sampling and testing procedures used by manufacturers, particularly small-to-medium sized businesses, of ready-to-eat foods and their approaches to controlling listeria in the food supply chain.
FSA is inviting tenders to carry out the review. Researchers will be required to conduct a comprehensive review of current practices in the management of Listeria monocytogenes used by manufacturers in the cooked sliced meat sector, identifying key risk areas in the whole processing chain and potential gaps in their management.
