FDA Releases Agenda and Opens Public Docket for Listeria monocytogenes Prevention Meeting

FDA Provides Additional Details Ahead of August Public Meeting

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released the agenda and discussion topics for its upcoming Public Meeting on Listeria monocytogenes Prevention, scheduled for August 18-19, 2026.

In addition to publishing the meeting agenda, FDA has opened a public docket to receive comments for 90 days, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to share perspectives on Listeria prevention strategies and emerging scientific developments.

FDA has described this meeting as the first in a broader series of public engagements, including future workshops and webinars, focused on advancing Listeria monocytogenes prevention.

Meeting Topics

According to FDA, the meeting will include presentations and listening sessions covering several areas of Listeria prevention, including:

• Advances in Listeria monocytogenes control
• Prevention practices for ready-to-eat foods
• Dose-response modeling
• Retail food safety management systems
• Changing demographics and dietary patterns

FDA will also seek stakeholder input through a series of key discussion questions and comments submitted through the public docket.

Opportunity for Industry Participation

The public docket allows food manufacturers, retailers, industry organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to provide comments that may help inform FDA’s future work on Listeria monocytogenes prevention.

The agency has indicated these discussions will complement ongoing scientific research and emerging best practices for reducing Listeria risks throughout the food supply chain.

Why This Matters

Listeria monocytogenes continues to be one of FDA’s highest food safety priorities, particularly for ready-to-eat foods where contamination after processing can present significant public health risks.

This meeting represents an opportunity for industry to better understand FDA’s current areas of focus while contributing practical perspectives on prevention, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and consumer education.

EAS Perspective

FDA’s decision to expand stakeholder engagement through public meetings and comment opportunities demonstrates the agency’s continued emphasis on science-based approaches to Listeria prevention. Companies producing ready-to-eat foods should consider participating in these discussions and monitor future initiatives that may influence best practices and regulatory expectations for environmental monitoring and pathogen control.