Advancing food safety in ready-to-eat and refrigerated foods
Developing new products that deliver great sensory experiences, such as taste and texture, is only part of the challenge food manufacturers face. Food safety, particularly the control of Listeria monocytogenes, remains one of the most persistent hurdles in ready-to-eat and refrigerated foods.
Traditional validation methods often require multiple testing cycles and reformulations, which can lead to long delays before launch. These steps are critical for safety but slow down innovation and increase development costs. Even with robust HACCP and sanitation programs, low-level contamination risks can remain. Manufacturers need a way to evaluate product safety earlier and more efficiently in the development process.
Smarter Listeria control through predictive modeling
The Corbion Listeria Control Model (CLCM) provides a smarter, science-based approach to managing food safety risks. This predictive modeling tool simulates the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat and refrigerated foods, allowing food developers to evaluate formulation options before products ever reach the test bench.
Built on more than two decades of microbiological expertise and a database of over 2,500 individual growth curves, the CLCM transforms uncertainty into reliable, data-backed insights. By understanding how Listeria behaves in specific conditions, developers can design products that meet both safety and shelf-life goals more efficiently.
Built on science, proven in real-world applications
Data Foundation
Developed from statistically designed experiments and validated challenge studies, the model leverages one of the most comprehensive Listeria datasets in the industry.
Scientific Value
CLCM helps transform microbial uncertainty into predictable outcomes, supporting informed decision-making across R&D and quality teams.
Cross-Category Application
The model has been successfully applied to ready-to-eat meats, seafood, plant-based foods, and other refrigerated food products where Listeria monocytogenes is a concern.
Accessible Options
Full access is available for Corbion customers using antimicrobial solutions. A limited version is also available for broader use without antimicrobial simulation capabilities.
Benefits for food manufacturers and R&D teams
- Reduce the number of validation trials and accelerate development cycles
- Exported reports can be used as scientific support as cited in Appendix 2.1 of the USDA-FSIS Listeria guidelines
- Increase confidence in shelf life and microbial stability
- Lower R&D and testing costs by optimizing challenge study design
- Improve accuracy in predicting Listeria growth and control
Recent updates: expanding accuracy with new data and features
The Corbion Listeria Control Model continues to evolve through ongoing data collection, new validation studies, and enhanced functionality. Each update reflects Corbion’s commitment to helping customers make faster, more confident decisions grounded in the latest science.
- Dynamic Temperature Modeling
Now supports ascending and descending temperature profiles to better reflect the realities of the cold chain during storage and distribution. - Deep Chill Category
New modeling capabilities for static storage temperatures between 0–3°C (32–37.4°F) enable a more accurate assessment of cold-stored meats and ready-to-eat products. - Enhanced Reporting
Generate detailed reports that evaluate up to three combined Corbion preservation strategies in a single simulation, providing deeper insight into formulation performance. - Continuous Learning
Each update integrates new data and validation studies, enhancing model accuracy and ensuring users always have access to the most current predictive insights.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Corbion Listeria Control Model
The Corbion Listeria Control Model is a predictive growth model that helps food processors forecast the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and refrigerated foods, supporting safer product development.
Key advantages include:
- More accurate predictions of Listeria growth.
- Better design and interpretation of challenge studies.
- Improved ability to maintain compliance with food safety standards.
- Support in developing longer-lasting, safer ready-to-eat (RTE) products.
By simulating Listeria growth under various environmental conditions, the model increases the relevance of challenge studies and provides insights that make food safety testing more efficient and reliable.
The model is built on over 2,500 individual growth curves from statistically designed experiments, making it one of the most comprehensive predictive tools available for ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and chilled foods.
Both large and small food companies in the meat and refrigerated foods industry use the model to design safer products, optimize preservation strategies, and meet regulatory requirements.