Microbiological criteria for food contact surfaces
I am looking for microbiological criteria for food contact surfaces (re-usable plastic boxes to transport and storage fruits and vegetables) after cleaining and disinfection process. Specifically for Total Viable Count (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae. I just found some recommendations from different researchers
Peter Snyder
TVC
-Clean: 2-10 CFU/cm2
-Aceptable: 10-100 CFU/ cm2
-Not aceptable >100 CFU/ cm2.
Forsythe and Hayes
TVC
-Excellent: < 1 CFU/cm2
-Good: 2-10 CFU/ cm2
Decision 2001/471/EC already derogated:
TVC
aceptable: 0-10 CFU/cm2;
Enterobacteria:
aceptable 0-1 CFU/cm2;
I would be very pleased if someone could help me out choosing the right values or giving to me reliable references
Many thanks in advance
Dear mlara,
I am guessing yr quoted data were mainly not based on (designated) packaging materials. "Other" types of FCS maybe yes.
Enterobacteriaceae data is relatively infrequent for either case IMEX.
For "Other" category, see the sub-link in this post for a compilation(s) -
http://www.ifsqn.com...indpost&p=66263
For designated packaging materials, there are a few random threads here with data / proposed criteria for (TVC + ) for, from memory, Germany / Canada / USA but the total is very small compared to "Other". A lot of the plastic items are a result of high temperature processes of course. Offhand don't recall the packaging forum links unfortunately. Maybe try a little searching for "micro packaging" or similar.
Rgds / Charles.C
PS - added, for example try -