Guidance

Ready-to-eat foods: microbiological safety assessment guidelines

The UK Health Security Agency examines foods from local and port health authorities to help safeguard consumer health.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 1 November 2009
• Last updated: 12 September 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Guidelines for assessing the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods placed on the market

Ref: GOV-10791

PDF, 1.06 MB, 73 pages

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Details

The foods referred to include samples submitted for surveillance and monitoring, for official control purposes, and those tested as part of outbreak investigations.

Food within the scope of the revised guidelines includes ready-to-eat food sampled within the retail chain, for example retail, wholesale, distribution and food service sectors (as defined by Regulation (EC) 178/200210).

These guidelines focus on public health and consumer protection.

Published 1 November 2009
Last updated 12 September 2024 + show all updates

1. 12 September 2024

   Added 2024 guidance.

2. 1 November 2009

   First published.