9 replies to this topic

[catherine.delosreyes]

Hi,

 

Anyone here who may know what is the acceptable limit for coliform & fecal coliform for ready-to-eat foods?  Appreciate if you could also share any references pertaining to the topic.  Thanks.

 

 

Cheers,

Cath

[jdpaul]

See here. A table is listed in the document:

 

http://blpd.dss.go.th/micro/ready.pdf

[Charles.C]

Hi,

 

Anyone here who may know what is the acceptable limit for coliform & fecal coliform for ready-to-eat foods?  Appreciate if you could also share any references pertaining to the topic.  Thanks.

 

 

Cheers,

Cath

 

Hi catherine,

 

I assume you mean official/reference textbook standard.

Are you aware that official Philippine Food Micro.Standards exist ?

 

Product  ?

Location ?

 

Coliform is not directly safety-related. Sometimes <100cfu/g but afaik this is just an empirical hygiene opinion.

Fecal coliform is sort of obsolete. Recommend to replace by generic E.coli.

[catherine.delosreyes]

See here. A table is listed in the document:

 

http://blpd.dss.go.th/micro/ready.pdf

Thank you!

[catherine.delosreyes]

Hi Charles,

 

Thanks for your response.  My reply in blue font below.

 

Hi catherine,

 

I assume you mean official/reference textbook standard. Yes, that's correct.

Are you aware that official Philippine Food Micro.Standards exist ? You mean the one issued by the Philippine FDA? I saw this already but it's for various manufactured / produced pproducts. Not for ready-to-eat / cooked food (i.e. viand prepared by a caterer).

 

Product  ? Ready-to-eat food (i.e. pandan chicken, fried rice, etc.)

Location ? (Kitchen commissary) 

 

Coliform is not directly safety-related. Sometimes <100cfu/g but afaik this is just an empirical hygiene opinion. 

Fecal coliform is sort of obsolete. Recommend to replace by generic E.coli. I see. Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

 

 

Catherine

[catherine.delosreyes]

 

Hi catherine,

 

I assume you mean official/reference textbook standard.

Are you aware that official Philippine Food Micro.Standards exist ?

 

Product  ?

Location ?

 

Coliform is not directly safety-related. Sometimes <100cfu/g but afaik this is just an empirical hygiene opinion.

Fecal coliform is sort of obsolete. Recommend to replace by generic E.coli.

 

Hi,

 

May I have last question? An RTE food lab result with a Coliform Count of 150 MPN & Fecal Coliform Count of 150, is this considered a failed result and indicative of a food safety risk?

 

Thanks for your possible answer.

 

Cheers,

 

Catherine

[Gerard H.]

Dear Catherine,

 

In addition to the information above, just a note that for certain export countries, Fecal coliforms in Ready-to-eat foods can be an issue as well (for example Japan).

 

Kind regards,

 

Gerard Heerkens

[Charles.C]

Hi,

 

May I have last question? An RTE food lab result with a Coliform Count of 150 MPN & Fecal Coliform Count of 150, is this considered a failed result and indicative of a food safety risk?

 

Thanks for your possible answer.

 

Cheers,

 

Catherine

 

Hi Catherine,

 

Apologies late reply. Never saw yr Post.

 

It's questionable to make a decision based only on one result. Additionally the factors are not specific pathogens. And the product type is unknown.

 

Commonly used accept/reject criteria,  as you probably know, often use the nmMc system where n = 5.

 

Regardless, assuming the data mentioned is from a validated method, the results would probably be considered  "high" for many foods.

[catherine.delosreyes]

Dear Catherine,

 

In addition to the information above, just a note that for certain export countries, Fecal coliforms in Ready-to-eat foods can be an issue as well (for example Japan).

 

Kind regards,

 

Gerard Heerkens

Thanks Gerard for that info. 

[Gerard H.]

Hi Catherine,

 

You're welcome ! Have a nice day !

 

Kind regards,

 

Gerard