Ready-to-eat

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A foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to Boar’s Head ready-to-eat (RTE) deli products has sickened 34 people across 13 states, resulting in two deaths. A recall is in effect.

Beginning in September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) will implement a new sampling program to verify allergen label claims on ready-to-eat (RTE) foods.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc. for listing “contains” statements for major food allergens on the labels of products that do not actually contain the listed allergens. The warning letter follows an FDA statement denouncing a trend of food manufacturers attempting to circumvent allergen cross-contamination requirements by exploiting loopholes around “may contain” label statements.

A recent study of canned tuna packed in oil and sold in Europe revealed toxic chemicals bisphenol A (BPA) and/or glycidol in all of the analyzed tuna products. Mercury and 3-MCPD were not found at levels high enough to cause concern.

Fresh prepared foods (FPF)—convenient grab-and-go and deli items that are sold at grocery stores—increased in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for these goods has remained strong, driving an increased focus on, and need for, food safety for FPF. 

A study has identified significant deficiencies in existing quantitative risk assessment models for Listeria monocytogenes on produce, such as failure to consider important contamination factors in primary production, among other gaps.

The European Commission has proposed amendments to EU regulations regarding allowable levels of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods to apply to additional food business operators along the supply chain.

The European Commission recently made changes to the maximum levels of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in food with Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1022, amending Regulation (EU) 2023/915.

A recent study conducted by scientists from the Quadram Institute and the UK Health Security Agency has revealed that, despite cleaning, Listeria monocytogenes are able to persist in ready-to-eat (RTE) food production environments, supported by diverse bacterial populations that also remain stable over time.

A recent study conducted by veterinary and agronomic researchers from Lusófona University in Portugal has provided a new One Health perspective on food safety in ready-to-eat (RTE) produce, with a focus on the challenges related to microbiological contamination in minimally processed fruits and vegetables.