{"id":16727,"date":"2026-07-22T10:58:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T08:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.congen.de\/was-die-neue-eu-listerienverordnung-2024-2895-fuer-lebensmittelhersteller-bedeutet\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T09:06:39","slug":"what-the-new-listeria-regulation-eu-2024-2895-means-for-food-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.congen.de\/en\/what-the-new-listeria-regulation-eu-2024-2895-means-for-food-manufacturers\/","title":{"rendered":"What the new Listeria Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895 means for food manufacturers"},"content":{"rendered":"

With effect from July 1, 2026, Regulation (EC) No 2073\/2005 <\/span><\/span> will be amended by Regulation (EU) 2024\/2895<\/a><\/span><\/span>. This revision serves to tighten the microbiological criteria for <\/span><\/span>Listeria monocytogenes<\/i><\/span><\/span> in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. Consequently, it brings about a redefinition of the requirements for demonstrating food safety.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is Listeria monocytogenes? <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Listeria monocytogenes<\/i><\/span><\/span> is a gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium belonging to the family <\/span><\/span>Listeriaceae<\/i><\/span><\/span>. Its exceptional adaptability makes this organism ubiquitous, meaning it occurs in soil, water, vegetation, as well as in the intestinal tracts of animals.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For the food industry, <\/span><\/span>Listeria monocytogenes<\/i><\/span><\/span> represents a constant challenge due to two primary characteristics:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Although the optimal growth temperature for <\/span><\/span>Listeria<\/i><\/span><\/span> ranges between 30 \u2013 39\u00b0C, its high resilience allows it to proliferate at refrigeration temperatures (2 \u2013 4\u00b0C) as well as under oxygen-deficient conditions.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. <\/a> Listeria<\/i><\/span><\/span> is highly salt-tolerant and acidoresistant. Their capacity to form biofilms render them remarkably resistant to cleaning and disinfection.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Listeria monocytogenes<\/i><\/span><\/span> is a foodborne pathogen that is transmitted through contaminated food and a severe threat to public health. High-risk food matrices include smoked fish, raw milk, raw milk products, cheese, cold cuts, pre-packaged salads, and raw minced meat.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Medical relevance: Low incidence \u2013 high mortality rate <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    In healthy individuals, an infection with Listeria \u2013 known as listeriosis \u2013 is mostly asymptomatic or presents as a mild, flu-like illness with gastrointestinal symptoms. The pathogen is a significant cause of mortality for elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women, often resulting in severe illness or even fatality. Across Europe, the case-fatality rate for severe courses of the disease is approximately 20 \u2013 30%.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    amendments: which products are affected?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    The core change of the regulation targets Food Category 1.2: Ready-to-eat foods able to support the growth of <\/span><\/span>Listeria monocytogenes<\/i><\/span><\/span>, other than those intended for infants and for special medical purposes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    Until now, the regulation has distinguished between products that are still in the manufacturing stage and those that are already in the distribution stage. This distinction is now being abolished, and the new requirements will apply across the entire supply chain.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n