Listeria monocytogenes case study about Normec Foodlab & Normec QA
Case study: Listeria monocytogenes: risks and opportunities associated with a change in distribution channel
A start-up in the food industry has developed a unique hybrid product consisting of a plant-based and a meat component. The original idea was to supply this product frozen to the hospitality industry. Then COVID-19 hit, and the hospitality industry shut down.
A workable food safety system
Normec Foodcare was asked by the company to help build a workable food safety system from the ground up.
Since this is a frozen product that is not sold to consumers in this form but is supplied to the catering industry, a great deal of attention was paid to validating the preparation instructions. In addition, there was a focus on the control of (safe) raw materials. This made it possible to control the risk of Listeria monocytogenes.
Quick response
With the hospitality industry as a sales channel no longer available, quick action was needed. Every effort was made to sell the product through retail outlets. Initially, this would also involve a frozen product. Since there is no way of checking whether consumers heat the product thoroughly at home, it had to be ensured that Listeria monocytogenes could not grow above 100 kve/g. This was achieved by carrying out more checks and applying stricter raw material selection criteria.
New possibilities for risk reduction
A retailer expressed the desire to sell the product chilled instead of frozen, with a best-before date of 10 days after arrival. This means that the total best-before date would have to be approximately 14 days. In order to meet this requirement, a study was first set up to investigate whether MAP packaging could offer a solution. It soon became apparent that the growth of Listeria monocytogenes would exceed the set limits. The possibility of using preservatives was then suggested. Various combinations were tested and, although these proved to be sensorily comparable to the original product, this method was not chosen. The use of preservatives is not in line with the principles and requirements that the company sets for its products.
A test is currently underway to investigate whether the product can undergo sterilization in the final packaging using other sterilization techniques, in order to eliminate the risk of Listeria monocytogenes.