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27.07.2022 - Foods

Update of DGHM Recommendations (as of July 2022)

Below we would like to point out the latest updates of the DGHM recommendations. For numerous product groups of food, the "Permanent Working Group on Microbiological Guidelines and Warning Values for Food of the DGHM e.V." (German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology e.V.) publishes guideline and warning values for the assessment of microbiological test results. These criteria are intended to assist in assessing the hygienic-microbiological quality of food. Unlike the legal criteria of the Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs, the DGHM recommendations are not legally binding.

The updates to the DGHM recommendations will be published shortly. Accordingly, we have updated our testing plans.

The following drafts were published as new recommendations without change:

• Unseasoned and seasoned minced meat from pork and/or beef at the trade level

We would like to point out that the footnotes to these recommendations include the following additional notes:

- For minced meat intended for raw consumption from beef, testing for STEC/EHEC is additionally recommended. The warning value is n.d. in 25g.

- For minced meat intended for raw consumption from pork, testing for thermophilic Campylobacter is additionally recommended. The warning value is n.d. in 10g.

• Hot-smoked fish products, whole fish and pieces with and without skin 

• Dried mushrooms (excluding porcini mushrooms)

The DGHM recommendations are available for a fee at www.dghm-richt-warnwerte.de.

New or updated drafts of product groups:

• Dried fruits including raisins and fruit powders (remain in draft stage) 

• Cereal milling products (renamed to cereal flours from wheat, rye, and spelt)

Following changes:

- The parameter spores of sulfite-reducing clostridia was changed to Clostridium perfringens. The criteria remain the same.

• Infant food based on milk powder excluding initial infant formula (renamed to follow-up infant formula based on milk powder)

Following changes:

- For the parameter Enterobacteriaceae, there is a significant change in the criteria. These will be adjusted to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005. Therefore, the warning value n.d. in 50g is introduced in the DGHM recommendation. The sample should consist of 5x 10g. 

- For the parameter Salmonella, the criterion is also adjusted to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005. Here, the warning value n.d. in 750g is introduced. The sample should now consist of 30x 25g. 

The drafts are freely accessible at www.dghm.org

If you have any questions or comments about the recommendations and drafts, please do not hesitate to contact your customer advisor. Since our managing director Paul Andrei is a member of the aforementioned working group, we can answer your questions competently and promptly.