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Fapas Food Microbiology Programme

 

Food Microbiology

  • We offer a flexible programme of 11 Food Microbiology distributions a year
  • Real food samples with target organisms and background flora
  • Proficiency Tests for detection and enumeration
  • We have a 9 day testing window available
  • Samples are sent by courier worldwide in a controlled environment
  • Each test receives rigorous statistical analysis with clear feedback
  • Comprehensive reports give information on microbiological methods used by other participants

 

New Food Microbiology Proficiency Tests 

 

Aerobic Plate count and Lactic Acid Bacteria in Fruit Juice

lactic acid bacteria in fruit juice

Aerobic plate count (APC) and the enumeration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important tests carried out to ensure the quality of fruit juices. As a natural product, contamination of juices is almost impossible to avoid, but many organisms are not able to multiply in the low pH environment found in juices, especially citrus juices. When testing, a low aerobic plate count would normally indicate low contamination in a food and nothing to be concerned about. However, if the low-level contamination in a juice sample is due to lactic acid bacteria, they are capable of tolerating and thriving in the low pH conditions, thereby causing spoilage of the product and potentially large loss of revenue. 

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Mould Enumeration in Fruit Juice

Mould Enumeration in Fruit Juice

Moulds are important potential spoilage organisms of fruit and fruit juices. Many juice products are pasteurised which will help to control spoilage organisms like lactic acid bacteria. However, moulds can survive this process through the production of heat resistant spores, which may then later germinate. Able to grow in the low pH and low water activity environment fruit juices provide, moulds may proliferate, causing spoilage. This material complements the new APC and lactic acid bacteria sample and the existing fruit juice sample for the enumeration of yeasts.

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Aerobic Place Count (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Escherichia coli (enumeration) in Milk Powder

Aerobic Place Count (APC), Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Escherichia coli (enumeration) in Milk Powder

We have added aerobic plate count to this test material to create a more realistic sample for laboratories to analyse. Laboratories are accustomed to carrying out multiple tests on a single sample, and this provides not only a realistic material, but helps to reduce costs for laboratories participating in proficiency testing.

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Sponge Swab for Escherichia coli 0157:H7 (detection)

Sponge Swab

E. coli 0157:H7 can, like other intestinal pathogens, survive for significant periods in the environment. Regular monitoring for this important pathogen should therefore be carried out in manufacturing areas where the nature of the product being processed could lead to environmental contamination. This sample complements our existing range of hygiene swabs for pathogen detection.

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