The sampling plan for the 2009 national microbiological surveillance programme is outlined in Table 1. The topics were agreed following consultation with Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and the Official Food Microbiology Laboratories (OFMLs).
Table 1: Sampling plan for the 2009 national microbiological surveillance programme
| Topic | Period | Microbiological parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-packed sandwiches- Executive summary and report | April-July 2009 | Listeria monocytogenes
Coagulase positive staphylococci |
| Swab samples from cooked meat slicers | September – December 2009 | Enterobacteriaceae, Aerobic Colony Count (ACC) Listeria monocytogenes (detection only) VTEC (where possible) |