{"id":47956,"date":"2026-09-28T14:57:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T12:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/?post_type=news&#038;p=47956"},"modified":"2026-09-28T15:11:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T13:11:43","slug":"listeria-requirements-for-rte-foods-changed","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/news\/listeria-requirements-for-rte-foods-changed\/","title":{"rendered":"Listeria requirements for RTE foods have changed in Europe. What should global manufacturers know?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"47956\" class=\"elementor elementor-47956\" data-elementor-post-type=\"news\">\n\t\t\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-70236e2{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-70236e2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"70236e2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f24d638 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f24d638\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods pose a particular food safety challenge because they are consumed without another cooking step. If contamination is present in the finished product, it may still be there when the food reaches the consumer.<br \/><br \/>For manufacturers selling in several markets, the challenge is greater. Listeria monocytogenes is regulated worldwide, but the requirements differ.<br \/><br \/>Some markets require Listeria to be absent in a 25 g sample for certain RTE foods. Others allow up to 100 CFU\/g when manufacturers can show that the product will not support growth. Testing, product categories and shelf-life requirements can also vary.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-49d0529{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-49d0529 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"49d0529\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b678cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b678cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">New EU requirements since July 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-7731b99{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-7731b99 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7731b99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-713294f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"713294f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<webien-image class=\" has-thumb ratio-original\">\r\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.webien.cloud\/pixel.webp\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1082\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/istock-1170843848-large-e1790594614533.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/istock-1170843848-large-e1790594614533.jpg\" data-optimize=\"1\" data-useoriginal=\"0\" data-ratio=\"none\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-focus=\"attention\" class=\"main lazyload\" title=\"Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods\" alt=\"Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods with HPP\" \/>\r\n\t\r\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1082\" src=\"https:\/\/wrooom.webien.io\/eyJpbWFnZVVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY24ucXVpbnR1c3RlY2hub2xvZ2llcy5jb20vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjYvMDkvaXN0b2NrLTExNzA4NDM4NDgtbGFyZ2UtZTE3OTA1OTQ2MTQ1MzMuanBnIiwicHVibGljS2V5Ijoibm9LZXkiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjE1MCwiaGVpZ2h0IjoxNTAsImZpdCI6Imluc2lkZSIsInBvc2l0aW9uIjoiYXR0ZW50aW9uIiwid2l0aG91dEVubGFyZ2VtZW50Ijp0cnVlfSwiYmx1ciI6MTJ9fQ==\" class=\"thumb\" \/>\r\n\t<\/webien-image>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f20ecb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f20ecb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Effective 1 July 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/eli\/reg\/2024\/2895\/oj\/eng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895<\/a>\u00a0tightened the requirements for RTE foods that can support the growth of <em>Listeria monocytogenes<\/em>.<\/p><p>For affected products, \u201cnot detected in 25 g\u201d applies throughout shelf life unless the manufacturer can demonstrate that the product will remain within the permitted limit.<\/p><p>This places greater focus on controlling <em>Listeria<\/em> throughout the product\u2019s shelf life, including distribution, retail and storage.<\/p><p>There is also a difference within the UK. Great Britain has retained the previous approach, while Northern Ireland follows the updated EU requirements.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-279d950{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-279d950 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"279d950\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e61a744 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e61a744\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Different markets, different requirements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-8324690{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-8324690 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8324690\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e378ab5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e378ab5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The differences extend beyond Europe.<\/p><p>The United States applies strict requirements to many RTE foods, including certain post-processing exposed meat and poultry products. Canada uses a risk-based approach based on whether a food supports <em>Listeria<\/em> growth. China requires absence in 25 g for specified RTE categories. Australia and New Zealand also distinguish between foods that can and cannot support growth.<\/p><p>For manufacturers selling internationally, the same product may therefore face different limits, testing requirements and supporting evidence depending on the market.<\/p><p><em>The common goal is the same: keep Listeria monocytogenes absent or under control throughout the intended shelf life.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-72d879b{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-72d879b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"72d879b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3b8511 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b3b8511\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why the final package matters<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-4c8a065{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-4c8a065 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4c8a065\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cfa3dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1cfa3dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Contamination can occur after cooking or another food safety step, for example during slicing, handling or packaging.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/quintustechnologies.com\/products\/high-pressure-processing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">High Pressure Processing<\/a> (HPP) treats food after it has been sealed in its final package. Under validated processing conditions, HPP can inactivate <em>Listeria monocytogenes<\/em> without using heat or added chemical preservatives.<\/p><p>This allows manufacturers to add a food safety step close to the point of distribution while helping maintain the flavor, color and texture of refrigerated RTE foods.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-ee654ba{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-ee654ba e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ee654ba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1eaa8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c1eaa8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">One approach across multiple markets: HPP<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16513c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"16513c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/quintustechnologies.com\/products\/high-pressure-processing\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<webien-image class=\" has-thumb ratio-original\">\r\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.webien.cloud\/pixel.webp\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/25203-8026-large.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/25203-8026-large.jpg\" data-optimize=\"1\" data-useoriginal=\"0\" data-ratio=\"none\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-focus=\"attention\" class=\"main lazyload\" title=\"25203-8026-large\" alt=\"HPP QIF 600L\" \/>\r\n\t\r\n\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" src=\"https:\/\/wrooom.webien.io\/eyJpbWFnZVVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vY24ucXVpbnR1c3RlY2hub2xvZ2llcy5jb20vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjIvMTIvMjUyMDMtODAyNi1sYXJnZS5qcGciLCJwdWJsaWNLZXkiOiJub0tleSIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MTUwLCJoZWlnaHQiOjE1MCwiZml0IjoiaW5zaWRlIiwicG9zaXRpb24iOiJhdHRlbnRpb24iLCJ3aXRob3V0RW5sYXJnZW1lbnQiOnRydWV9LCJibHVyIjoxMn19\" class=\"thumb\" \/>\r\n\t<\/webien-image>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<style>\n                .elementor-element-7eb07ad{\n                --padding-top: var(--webien-padding-top-default);\n                --padding-right: var(--webien-padding-right-default);\n                --padding-bottom: var(--webien-padding-bottom-default);\n                --padding-left: var(--webien-padding-left-default);\n                }\n            <\/style><div class=\"webien-container-padding-default elementor-element elementor-element-7eb07ad e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7eb07ad\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c45715 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c45715\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There is no single global <em>Listeria<\/em> standard. But manufacturers may not need a completely different food safety approach for every market.<\/p><p>Our new whitepaper, <a href=\"https:\/\/quintustechnologies.com\/knowledge-center\/controlling-listeria-monocytogenes-in-rte-foods\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods: A Global Regulatory Comparison,<\/em><\/a> compares requirements across the US, Canada, Mexico, the EU, the UK, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p><p>It explains how the requirements differ, what the latest EU changes mean for RTE foods, and how HPP can support food safety across multiple markets.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.quintustechnologies.com\/l\/228122\/2026-09-01\/7dxmt9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download the whitepaper<\/a> for a detailed overview of <em>Listeria<\/em> requirements, limits and practical considerations for RTE food manufacturers or contact our <a href=\"https:\/\/quintustechnologies.com\/partnership\/application-center\/hpp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Application Centers<\/a> to learn more about HPP.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","news-content-type":[652],"knowledge-center_industry":[129],"knowledge-center_topic":[130],"class_list":["post-47956","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news-content-type-articles-insights","knowledge-center_industry-food-beverages","knowledge-center_topic-food-processing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47989,"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47956\/revisions\/47989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-content-type?post=47956"},{"taxonomy":"knowledge-center_industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-center_industry?post=47956"},{"taxonomy":"knowledge-center_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cn.quintustechnologies.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-center_topic?post=47956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}