The world food standards body Codex Alimentarius has released a draft code of hygienic practice for eggs and egg products and wants comments from member governments and other international organisations by 15 May.


A recent meeting of the Codex committee on food hygiene also debated proposed draft guidelines on controlling listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods and also more general advice – draft principles and guidelines regarding microbiological risk management in food manufacturing and handling.


Regarding the egg guidelines, the USA has recently intervened to insist the code includes advice on microbiocidal treatments for eggs and egg products that would include pasteurisation.