ILC Micro Chem

Food Microbiology

Microbiological tests are conducted on food, food products (e.g. meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits, cereals, pasta, chocolate, cocoa, etc.) and dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream for microbiological quality, product safety and disease prevention. The Most Probable Number (MPN) method is generally used for the detection and enumeration of indicator bacteria. The Pour Plate (PP) method is used for standard (aerobic) plate count, yeast and mould count, and for detecting specific pathogens. Enrichment, plating and specialized methods are used for Salmonella, Listeria, Escherichia coli, Staphyloccocus aureus, and other specific pathogens.

There are more than 200 known diseases transmitted through food. Many of these diseases could originate at the farming and processing level. Food-borne illness can also result from temperature abuses, undercooking or cross-contamination by food services, restaurants and home preparation. Bacteria related food poisoning is the most common, but fewer than 20 of the many thousands of different bacteria actually are the culprits. More than 90 percent of the cases of food poisoning each year are caused by

Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, And Entero-pathogenic Escherichia coli.

These bacteria are commonly found on many raw and processed foods. Normally a large number of food-poisoning bacteria must be present to cause illness. Therefore, illness can be prevented by

(1) Controlling the initial number of bacteria present,

(2) Preventing the small number of bacteria from growing,

(3) Destroying the bacteria by proper cooking

(4) Avoiding re-contamination.

Federally registered establishments must have sampling programs for Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria in order to verify that plant HACCP systems are effective in reducing contamination with these pathogenic microorganisms.

ILC Micro-Chem provides a full range of microbial and pathogen identification utilizing the latest approved Health Canada methods and as part of our value added program ILC supplies it's clients with swabs and air settlement plates for environmental monitoring. We also offer pathogen detection through rapid methods for quicker turn around times.

List of the most common microbiological analyses

*Aerobic Plate Count (ACC/SPC/TPC)	MFHPB-18,	48 hrs
*Clostridium Perfringens	MFHPB-23	24 hrs
*Coliform/E.coli Iso-Grid	AOAC 990.11	24 hrs
*Coliform and E.coli Plate Count (VRBA)	MFHPB-31	24-48 hrs
*Coliform/E.coli 5 tube MPN	MFHPB-19	48-96 hrs
*E.coli 0157:H7 presumptive (EHEC)	MFLP-87	24 hrs
*E.coli 0157:H7 presumptive/confirmation	AOAC 997.11	24 hrs/48 hrs
*E.coli 0157:H7 confirmation	MFLP-80	72 hrs
*E.coli 0157:H7 presumptive	MFLP-80	48 hrs
*Faecal Coliform MPN	MFHPB-19	48-96 hrs
Enterobacteriaceae	MFLP-43	24 hrs
Lactic Acid Bacteria	APHA	48 hrs
*Listeria spp. presumptive	MFHPB-30	52 hrs
*Listeria mono confirmation	MFHPB-30	6 days
*Listeria mono enumeration	MFLP-74	48 hrs
Mesophiles (Anaerobic)	MFHPB-18	48 hrs
Mould Identification	Method on Request	10 days
Osmophilic Yeast	MFHPB-22	3-5 days
Psychrophiles	MFHPB-18	48 hrs
*Salmonella presumptive	AOAC 991.12	48 hrs
*Salmonella confirmation	AOAC 991.12	48 hrs
*Salmonella presumptive	MFHPB-20	72 hrs
*Salmonella confirmation	MFHPB-20	5 days
*Staphylococcus aureus	MFHPB-21	48 hrs
Total Spore Count	MFLP-44	5 days
*Yeast & Mould	MFHPB-22	3-5 days
Water Activity	Hygro Lab	3-5 days
Gram Stain		24hrs
*Listeria spp.	MFLP-71	52 hrs
Listeria mono (PCR)	MFLP-31	48 hrs
*Salmonella (MSRV)	MFLP-75	72 hrs
Background count	AWWA 9222B	48-96 hrs
Faecal coliform	AWWA 9222B	24-48hrs
Hetrotrophic plate count	AWWA 9215B	48 hrs
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	AWWA 9213E	72 hrs
Streptococcus faecalis	AWWA 9230C	48-72 hrs
Salmonella (PCR)	MFLP-32	24 hrs
Bifido bacterium count	APHA	72 hrs
Lactobacillus speciation	APHA	72 hrs
Total probiotic count	APHA	72 hrs