Effectiveness of interventions taken by UK slaughterhouses and meat cutting plants in response to unsatisfactory process hygiene criteria (PHC) results

Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria of foodstuffs sets rules for sampling frequencies for process hygiene criteria (PHC) in slaughterhouses and cutting plants. The regulation grants sampling exemptions for small meat processing establishments; however, it is poorly understood how these exemption may affect risk to consumers. The FSA therefore is proposing to commission a project to assess the effectiveness of corrective actions typically taken by meat processing establishments following unsatisfactory PHC findings. This knowledge will be used to inform the risk to consumers from PHC sampling exemptions for small meat processing establishments, and support the FSA in improving regulatory compliance. This project will consist of two phases: 1) semi-structured qualitative interviews of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders to determine which actions are taken by meat processing establishments in response to unsatisfactory PHC results; followed by 2) a critical literature review of the effectiveness of interventions identified in Phase 1 in correcting unsatisfactory PHC results. The final output of the project will be a technical report consisting of findings from Phases 1 and 2, for publication with the FSA. Tenderers should have expertise designing and conducting qualitative questionnaires and interviews, and experience conducting critical literature reviews. Experience of slaughterhouse and meat cutting plant hygiene processes and microbiological process hygiene criteria is highly desirable.