Decontaminating substances
Decontaminating substances are substances, other than potable water, used to reduce contamination by pathogenic microorganisms (such as Salmonella or Campylobacter) from the surface of food or products of animal origin, intended for human consumption.
They can comprise:
- Chemical substances, e.g. lactic acid, peroxy acids or proteins
- Biological agents, e.g. bacteriophages
- Combinations of the above.
EFSA's role
Before taking any risk managementThe management of risks which have been identified by risk assessment. It includes the planning, implementation and evaluation of any resulting actions taken to protect consumers, animals and the environment decisions on the approval of a decontaminating substance, the European Commission requests EFSA to conduct a risk assessmentA specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation.
EFSA evaluates:
- whether the substance and any of its reaction products that may remain in the treated food are safe for consumers;
- how effective it is at reducing contamination by harmful microorganisms;
- whether its use could make microorganisms less sensitive to the substance itself, or to biocides or antimicrobials over time;
- its safety for the environment, considering what happens to the substance and its reaction products in wastewater and sewage treatment.
This work is carried out by two EFSA scientific panels: the Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) and the Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ).
The Commission has asked EFSA to provide scientific opinions on the safety and efficacyHow well something works in relation to predefined standards or expectations of several substances to be used on various types of food or products of animal origin.
In December 2025, the FCM Panel developed an updated guidance document on the submission of data for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of decontaminating substances.
EU framework
Regulation EC 853/2004 sets out that food business operators may use only potable water (or in certain cases, clean water) to remove surface contamination from products of animal origin. However, the European Commission can authorise other substances, taking into account EFSA’s scientific assessment.
Currently, only lactic acid is authorised in the EU to reduce microbiological surface contamination on bovine carcasses at slaughter (see Regulation EU 101/2013).
Published on this topic
EFSA scientific opinions on decontaminating substances
| Decontaminating substance | Food / matrix | Year |
| Lactic acid | Kangaroo, wild pig, goat and sheep carcasses | 2022 |
| Organic acids (lactic and acetic acids) | Pork carcasses and pork cuts | 2018 |
| Listex™ P100 | Ready-to-eat foodFood intended by the producer for direct consumption without the need for cooking or other processing products | 2016 |
| Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) solutions | Poultry carcasses and meat | 2014 |
| Listex™ P100 | Raw fish | 2012 |
| Cecure® | Raw poultry products | 2012 |
| Lactic acid | Beef carcasses, cuts and trimmings | 2011 |
| Four antimicrobial substances (chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate, peroxyacids) – resistance/tolerance | Poultry carcasses | 2008 |
| Lactic acid / sodium lactate (statement on use) | Poultry carcasses | 2008 |
| L(+)-lactic acid – efficacy | Poultry carcasses | 2006 |
| Chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate and peroxyacids – efficacy | Poultry carcasses | 2006 |