E.Coli 0157: controlling cross-contamination

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced guidance for food businesses on what they should do to control the risk of contamination from E. coli O157.

The publication of the guidance follows a full public consultation on the steps that the agency considered food businesses needed to take to control cross-contamination between raw foods and ready-to-eat foods where E. coli O157 is a hazard. Although E. coli O157 is the key focus of this guidance, the measures outlined will also help in the control of other food poisoning bacteria, such as campylobacter and salmonella.

The guidance is intended as a source document for both industry and enforcers from which messages can be taken to produce further targeted guidance for specific audiences. The agency will be taking forward a further programme of work to consider how best to target specific audiences and to inform this work, we are seeking feedback from food business operators, their representative bodies and enforcers on implementation of this guidance. Feedback contact details can be found at page 2 of the guidance document.

The guidance document and associated factsheet are available to view online.