Progress on hospital food standards before 2020

The initiative follows the listeriosis outbreak publicised in June, killing six patients at hospitals in England. The outbreak was connected to Listeria monocytogenes in sliced meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats and used as filling in sandwiches supplied by The Good Food Chain to 43 NHS Trusts.

The Chilled Food Association (CFA) and the British Sandwich Association are working with the NHS, the Food Standards Agency, Public Health England and their equivalents in devolved administrations to enhance standards.

Enhancing certification requirements ​

CFA chief executive Kaarin Goodburn said the parties were reviewing industry, certification body and NHS supply requirements: “We are enhancing them, with the aim of requiring the same technical due diligence systems of final product suppliers and their suppliers of high-risk ingredients as are demanded by the major multiples. ​

“Since all parties are keen to avoid further incidents there’s drive, goodwill and desire to achieve the common aim of protecting people in care settings. We’re hopeful real progress will result by the end of the year.”​

There has been no update on health secretary Matt Hancock’s review into NHS food, announced in June after the outbreak.