Canada issues updated policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods

Health Canada updated their Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods on April 26, 2023, superseding the 2011 version. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated with Health Canada to revise the policy for the sake of Canadians' health and safety. 

The purpose of the revised policy is to offer direction on Listeria monocytogenes-related actions in ready-to-eat foods so that efficient control measures may be taken to guarantee the early detection of Listeria in processing settings. 

Government, business, and individual duties are all accounted for in the policy. The new listeria policy will go into force on October 1, but the old policy will continue to be in place until then.