THE EFFICIENCY OF THE FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES CONTROL: A MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY EXAMPLE

The paper aims to highlight the degree of efficiency of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) in a meat processing facility, focusing on the microbiological hazard represented by Listeria monocytogenes, in the current context of the national and global recurrence of the infections caused by these bacteria. The data for the analysis were gathered through a gap analysis (i.e. a newly developed checklist, based on the national authority guidelines and international specific guidelines), in order to evaluate the degree of compliance with general and specific requirements for an adequate Listeria spp. control. As means of verification of efficacy of the already implemented food safety management plan, against Listeria spp., a microbiological analysis of finished-products and environmental samples was conducted. For the meat processing facility under investigation, the prevention methods against Listeria monocytogenes are considered acceptable, provided that all identified noncomplying items be resolved before re-inspection.