10 Resource material - Pathogenic bacteria associated with
ready-to-eat chilled foods
There are four cold-tolerant bacteria that it is essential to consider when determining a date mark for a chilled
ready-to-eat food (identified in Figure 1, step 5 of the decision tree). It is important that if any of these
pathogenic bacteria could be present in the food at the end of processing, that the storage conditions and
time will not result in the bacteria growing to unsafe levels during the shelf life. A ‘use-by’ date will be needed
if there is the potential for this to occur to ensure that the consumer does not eat the food beyond this date.
Of the four cold-tolerant pathogenic bacteria listed, the most relevant to New Zealand produced food is
Listeria monocytogenes. For information on all the pathogenic bacteria, refer to the Pathogen Data Sheets
published on the MPI website together with the information provided below: