Revision of guidance for reducing the risk of vulnerable groups contracting listeriosis

We use some essential cookies to make this website work. We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. We are seeking views on the clarity of the revisions made to the listeriosis guidance for health and social care settings, and on our assessment of their impact. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 16 December 2026 To seek stakeholder views in England, Northern Ireland and Wales on the clarity of the updates made to the revised guidance, and on our assessment of the impact of this revision. In particular, we would welcome stakeholder views on whether: Food Standards Scotland ( FSS ) is the independent authority responsible for food and feed safety in Scotland and has its own version of this guidance. FSS will consider any changes to this guidance separately as part of their own review. This consultation is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) . The Food Standards Agency’s ( FSA ) reducing the risk of vulnerable groups contracting listeriosis guidance has been updated. Find the revised guidance at the bottom of this page. The current version of the guidance is also available to view (PDF) . The updates were based on findings derived from the survey of health and social care setting food businesses on implementation of the FSA listeriosis guidance and feedback from Local Authorities and District Councils. The guidance does not change existing policy. The main changes, which are listed in the revision history section of the guidance, include (but are not limited to): We would welcome views from stakeholders on the changes to the guidance. In particular, whether you agree that the revised guidance is an improvement on the current published version and whether the revised guidance delivers the improvements outlined above. The revised version includes editorial changes and additions to ensure the guidance fully reflects the legislative requirements across England, Northern Ireland and Wales at the time of consultation. There is no change to policy or science , as the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food deemed it was fit for purpose. Updates made are intended to improve clarity and strengthen understanding of how best practice should be applied in health and social care settings to reduce the risk of vulnerable groups contracting listeriosis. Findings derived from the survey of health and social care setting food businesses on implementation of the FSA listeriosis guidance and from local authorities and district councils identified several key areas for improvement. These included: These findings were systematically considered throughout the revision process, to address previously identified gaps and areas of ambiguity highlighted by relevant stakeholders. The FSA has assessed that the changes to the guidance present a relatively short familiarisation period to the intended users of the guidance. The clarification provided in this updated guidance is expected to benefit users by improving clarity and conciseness, while the incorporation of updated legislation enhances its overall applicability. Use our consultation response form to provide your comments. If you are unable to submit your response using the online form, then you can submit your response by emailing Food.Policy.Wales@food.gov.uk . Use the same questions from the form in your response, and include: Responses are required by 11.59pm 16 December 2026 . The FSA consultation privacy notice has information about how the FSA handles your personal data. If you require a more accessible format of this document, send details to Food.Policy.Wales@food.gov.uk and your request will be considered. This consultation has been prepared in accordan