Foodlaw-Reading Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Food Law News - UK - 2020

FSA News Item and Consultation, 1 October 2020

DATE MARKING / FOOD SAFETY - FSA launches consultation into shelf-life guidance for vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled beef, lamb and pork

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today launched a formal six-week consultation with key stakeholders to inform a review of the guidance on the safety and shelf-life of vacuum and modified atmosphere packed (VP/MAP) chilled beef, lamb and pork.

Currently, the FSA guidance (Opens in a new window)advises that the maximum shelf-life of VP/MAP chilled beef, lamb and pork should be 10 days , unless suitable controls are in place to appropriately reduce associated risks.

This summer the FSA, industry and other partners signed up to a joint statement, committing to working together to review the existing guidance and consider possible changes.

A separate FSA page provides more details of the consultation:

CONSULTATION

FSA Consultation Document: Guidance on the safety and shelf-life of vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled food with respect to nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum – chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork A copy of this document is available on this site. Also provided is a copy of a Joint statement by the Working Group on the Clostridium botulinum Guidance.

Consultation on a review of our guidance on the safety and shelf-life of vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled foods with respect to non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum’, in particular as regards the shelf-life of chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork.

• Date launched 1 October 2020
• Closing date 11 November 2020

About this consultation

This consultation concerns a review of best practice guidance on the safety and shelf-life of vacuum packed (VP) and modified atmosphere packed (MAP) chilled foods with respect to non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum. The consultation will run for 6 weeks.

Purpose of the consultation

The main focus of this review concerns the shelf-life of vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork (Consultation Point A).

The consultation points are:

• Consultation point A – To review the recommended 10-day shelf-life in relation to VP/MAP chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork in the temperature range from 3C to 8C, as provided for in this guidance.
• Consultation point B – To make amendments to the guidance as recommended in January 2020 by the ACMSF subgroup on C. botulinum.
• Consultation point C – To remove any references in the guidance related to the European Union which will no longer be relevant at the end of the Transition Period.
• Consultation point D – To improve the accessibility of the guidance for users in line with accessibility requirements for public bodies.

Who will this consultation be of most interest to?

Local authorities, meat trade associations, meat manufacturers and food businesses with an interest in vacuum and modified atmosphere packed chilled fresh meat.

Working in Partnership

We are working in partnership with key industry stakeholders in relation to Consultation Point A - To review the recommended 10-day shelf-life in relation to VP/MAP chilled fresh beef, lamb and pork in the temperature range from 3C to 8C.