Ready-to-eat

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With the refrigerated and prepared foods market shifting to meet consumer preferences, understand why placing food safety at the forefront is vital for brands to compete in today's market. 

Since June, FreshRealm has been involved in an ongoing, deadly foodborne illness outbreak, as the producer of prepared pasta meals that were made with Listeria monocytogenes-tainted pasta (supplied by Nate’s Fine Foods Inc.) and distributed nationwide under various brand names. Now, FreshRealm has alerted USDA that it detected L. monocytogenes in spinach used to make meals distributed by HelloFresh.

This article explores the critical yet underappreciated vulnerabilities of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in retail and foodservice settings, including blind spots in handling practices, supplier-level failures, and the vital importance of reheating protocols and environmental controls.

In response to a petition submitted by the Meat Institute (formerly NAMI), USDA-FSIS has deleted an “unnecessary and confusing” reference to Moisture Protein Ratio from the “Jerky” entry in the FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book.

A recent study found that Listeria monocytogenes from multispecies biofilms exhibits higher growth in ready-to-eat (RTE) cold-smoked salmon than L. monocytogenes from single-species biofilms. Additionally, L. monocytogenes contamination from the multi-species biofilm surpassed EU regulatory limits after 15 days of storage.

To assist establishments in meeting food safety regulatory requirements, USDA-FSIS has released a new, generic Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) model for ready-to-eat (RTE) fermented, salt-cured, and dried products.

Boar’s Head is planning to reopen a production plant that was linked to a deadly, multistate listeriosis outbreak in 2024. Meanwhile, inspection reports obtained by the Associated Press show that insanitary conditions similar to those that caused the outbreak continue to plague other Boar’s Head facilities.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has received official approval for four changes to the Food Standards Code. It has also provided new targeted guidance on microbiological safety and hygiene for seafood and cell-cultured products.

A foodborne listeriosis outbreak in Ireland has sickened nine people and resulted in one death. Preliminary investigation results suggest the likely cause are ready-to-heat meals produced by Ballymaguire Foods, sold under a variety of brand names at major retailers. Recalls have been initiated in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

FDA and CDC have closed their investigation into a Listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat products produced by Fresh and Ready Foods of San Fernando, California, announcing that one of the ten people who fell ill has died.