Release – Health Canada

March 2011

Health Canada has completed its update of the 2004 policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) foods, in view of enhancing the control of Listeria in high-risk foods. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to stakeholders regarding verification and control, as well as regulatory oversight and compliance activities of RTE foods with respect to their potential to support the growth of Listeria monocytogenes. This policy, developed as a joint effort between Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, takes into account the roles and responsibilities of industry, government and consumers.

At present, the Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat foods (2004) is still in effect to allow a transition period for implementation. The new Listeria policy (2010) will come into effect on April 1, 2011.

Executive Summary

The Canadian "Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods" (hereafter referred to as the Listeria policy) is based on Good Manufacturing Practices1 (GMPs) and the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). This policy was developed using a health risk assessment (HRA) approach and uses as its foundation a combination of inspection, environmental sampling2 and end-product testing to verify control of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. Focus is given to environmental verification and control, especially in post-lethality areas, as applicable. This policy applies to RTE food sold in Canada, produced both domestically and imported. The present policy revises and replaces the Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods dated October 4, 2004.

The current policy differs from the 2004 document in the following:

1. New end-product compliance criteria have been developed. These are similar to the International Codex Alimentarius Commission standards (CAC, 2009a). 

2. The definitions of RTE foods in which growth of L. monocytogenes can or cannot occur have been modified and/or developed. Validation data to support the categorization of RTE foods (i.e., Category 2A or 2B) are to be reviewed by regulatory authorities. The list of food products implicated in listeriosis outbreaks has been updated. 

3. The compliance action decision tree, including environmental testing for Listeria spp.3 and end-product testing for L. monocytogenes, has been modified to include more details related to sampling. 

4. It now states that an environmental monitoring program should be included in all plants used in the production of RTE foods, as defined in this policy. 

5. It encourages the use of post-lethality treatments and/or L. monocytogenes growth inhibitors. 

6. There is an increased focus on outreach with the federal/provincial/territorial community to increase awareness of the risks of foodborne listeriosis and to provide guidance on how to reduce the risks of acquiring listeriosis to personnel in institutions where high-risk people may be exposed. 

In this policy, RTE foods have been classified into two categories, based upon health risk. Category 1 contains products in which the growth of L. monocytogenes can occur. These should receive the highest priority for industry verification and control, as well as regulatory oversight and compliance activities. The presence of L. monocytogenes in these Category 1 RTE foods will likely trigger a Health Risk 1 concern. Category 2 contains two subgroups: 2A) RTE food products in which limited growth of L. monocytogenes to levels not greater than 100 CFU/g can occur throughout the stated shelf-life (e.g., durable life date shown as a "best before" date on the package); and 2B) RTE food products in which the growth of L. monocytogenes cannot occur throughout the expected shelf life of that food. These products should receive a lower priority with regards to industry verification and control, as well as regulatory oversight and compliance activities.

This revised policy should lead to an enhancement of the verification and control of Listeria spp. in the food processing environment, permit earlier identification of any potential persistent contamination of the plant environment and provide an increased ability to identify and mitigate against L. monocytogenes contamination of finished product. These actions will provide an early warning and permit the appropriate interventions to protect consumers.

Additional Resources

Summary of Comments Received on Health Canada's proposed policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods - March to May, 2010 

Listeria and Listeriosis 


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1 The term GMPs in the text is used as a generic term and includes all key conditions and control measures necessary for processors to ensure the safety and the suitability of food during manufacturing.

2 For the purposes of this document, this includes both food contact and non-food contact surfaces.

3 For the purposes of this document, this includes L. monocytogenes.