Health for humans, animals & plants

Ready-to-eat meals prepared for direct delivery on site

Final report of the priority action A-700-23

The aim of the focus campaign was to determine the edibility (sensory and microbiological examination) of home-produced food. In addition to spoilage and hygiene indicator germs (mesophilic aerobic germs, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci), pathogenic germs(Bacillus cereus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes) were also tested for microbiological parameters. The labelling of packaged goods was also checked.

1,149 samples from all over Austria were analysed. 85 samples were rejected:

  • Six samples were judged to be harmful to health and therefore unsafe: one sample due to contamination with Campylobacter sp., in five samples the bacterial content of presumptive Bacillus cereus was very high
  • 18 samples were assessed as unsuitable for human consumption / intended use as the bacterial content of hygiene indicators or spoilage organisms was very high and the organoleptic assessment was negative
  • In 25 samples, the content of Enterobacteriaceae, mesophilic aerobic germs, Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Bacillus cereus was slightly increased, which is why they were assessed as "impaired"
  • A hygiene offence was issued for five samples due to deviations from storage temperatures during storage (non-compliance with storage temperatures during sampling). In three samples, the value of the hygiene indicator germ Escherichia coli was too high and the germ content of Enterobacteriaceae was increased directly after production
  • The check for compliance with the Allergen Information Ordinance was objectionable for three samples.
  • Labelling deficiencies were found in a total of 28 samples of pre-packaged goods

Last updated: 18.07.2022

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