Three different types of production processes (i.e. type 1, type 2
and type 3) and three classes of REPFEDs were distinguished on the
basis of advised consumer reheating practices (i.e. ready-to-reheat
products (RTR), ready-to-heat (RTH) products and ready-to-eat
(RTE)). This classification can help producers and other stakeholders
(e.g. government setting up monitoring plans, microbiological
laboratories to decide testing parameters) to gain insight in
possible contamination routes and microbiological parameters
worth following in order to improve the safety of this heterogeneous
food group.