Microbiological criteria for raw meat and poultry

Hi, we have in place a micro testing program for raw meat and poultry which is to be cooked. I am reviewing the criteria, but can only find recommendations for Minced meat and meat preparations, not for muscle cuts e.g, Steaks, chicken breast, diced beef etc... Chicken only states criteria for salmonella, no TVC or enteros limits. I am trying to test chilled shelf life of a range of retail meat packs and get micro limits to work to and what we need to test against. Any advice much appreciated. Greg.

Hi,

 

We have in place a micro testing program for raw meat and poultry which is to be cooked. I am reviewing the criteria, but can only find recommendations for Minced meat and meat preparations, not for muscle cuts e.g, Steaks, chicken breast, diced beef etc... Chicken only states criteria for salmonella, no TVC or enteros limits.

 

I am trying to test chilled shelf life of a range of retail meat packs and get micro limits to work to and what we need to test against.

 

Any advice much appreciated.

 

Greg.

Hi Greg,

afaik, the only UK official, published, Micro. Guidelines for retail foods are for RTE products.

Nonetheless, specific customer (raw) specifications (eg Tesco) may well exist and occasionally I recall seeing some random Organizational micro. specifications like "receiving raw pork meat".

The only obvious requirements might, as usual, be non-detection of zero-tolerant pathogens albeit survey data typically shows such routine claims to likely be optimistic/a myth.

PS - I have collected many of the (global) micro compilations referenced on this forum (which includes some non-RTE materials) at the 2-links noted in this post -

https://www.ifsqn.co...to/#entry168274

Maybe something of interest.

I also recall there are a few (older) Tesco micro specs within another thread here. If of interest I can probably "dig" it/them out,

PPS - after a little searching, this archived material may be of some interest although I daresay you have seen it already -

MIG - chapter13-microbiological-criteria-final_version-2_2-1.pdf   864.03KB   82 downloads

P3S - And one more which is ageing (2006) but afaik remains the current (pre-Brexit anyway) version -

BRC_CFA_Micro_Criteria_Guidance_Ed_1.2.pdf   1.54MB   78 downloads

This is NOT UK specific, but may still be of some help-

Canada used this https://www.inspecti...9760663694#a1_3  as the pathogen requirements 

At least its a starting point and scientifically validated information