Microbiological specification for ice cream USFDA
Hello,
The use of coliform numbers as illustrated in OP/Standard goes back a very long way, ca 2000 and beyond.
The absence of mention of "coliform" in Scampi's link (2009) and its semi-replacement by E.coli probably demonstrates the then increasing disaffection with use of coliforms. The latter have long been used as a hygiene indicator in dairy industry but criticism of this specific usage has increased, eg (2016) -
Coliforms in Dairy Foods.pdf 186.52KB 15 downloads
Nonetheless, the above doesn't explain why the absence of pathogens although this additional measurement(s) was EC recommended to be dropped many years ago and coliforms to be replaced by Enterobacteriaceae. Pathogen testing is mentioned in above attachment.
From a micro-operational POV, this thread may also be of interest -