Food in which growth of Listeria monocytogenes will not occur
(1) For the purposes of the Schedule, growth of Listeria monocytogenes will not occur in a
ready-to-eat food if –
(a) the food has a pH less than 4.4 regardless of water activity; or
(b) the food has a water activity less than 0.92 regardless of pH; or
(c) the food has a pH less than 5.0 in combination with a water activity of less than
0.94; or
(d) the food has a refrigerated shelf life no greater than 5 days; or
(e) the food is frozen (including foods consumed frozen and those intended to be
thawed immediately before consumption); or
(f) it can be validated that the level of Listeria monocytogenes will not increase by
greater than 0.5 log cfu/g over the food’s stated shelf life.
(2) For the purposes of the Schedule, a ready-to-eat food that does not receive a listericidal
process during manufacture is taken to be a food in which growth of Listeria monocytogenes will not
occur if the level of Listeria monocytogenes will not exceed 100 cfu/g within the food’s expected shelf
life.
(3) For the purposes of subclause (2), a ready-to-eat food that does not receive a listericidal
process during manufacture is taken to include –
(a) ready-to-eat processed finfish; and
(b) fresh cut and packaged horticultural produce.