Microbiological Criteria for Food in the US ( et al.)
Hello all,
I work for a popcorn company who's main ingredients are corn kernels, salt, and various oils and seasonings. I've been doing some research online and it appears that the FDA and USDA do not have any specific microbiological criteria for foods in the US. There seems to be many studies and research, but no actual legislation. I was wondering if there was a comprehensive list of microbiological criteria for the US, or a foreign state. It seems that many countries have criteria, but mostly for Salmonella spp. and E. Coli, as well as ACC. If there is any established criteria on aflatoxins or coliform bacteria from the US or abroad, that would be extremely helpful as well. Thanks!!
Hi corcor,
Assuming you are referring to RTE items part of yr OP is easily answered.
Salmonella spp, E.coli O157 (and some other O variants), L.monocytogenes are invariably (3rd one not absolutely sure but almost certain) classified as zero-tolerant microbial pathogenic species in any product.
There are also US specific quantitative legal micro. criteria for non-safety related characteristics like TPC, generic E.coli for certain other RTE items like ice-cream. But popcorn no idea.
afaik there is no comprehensive compilation of these various items for USA but it's not impossible.
addendum
for aflatoxin see -
http://www.ifsqn.com...o-eat-products/
can also see this specific popcorn post/thead -
http://www.ifsqn.com...ry/#entry105008
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Some "typical" compilations of micro. specifications of primaily RTE products are here -
(not US-specific)
I have extracted 4 more compilations from older threads, Issuing Countries as indicated -
com1 - NACMCF-Micro.Criteria for Foods,USA,2015.pdf 1.73MB 811 downloads
com2 - MICROBIAL GUIDELINES FOR RTE Foods,Canada,2010.pdf 922.18KB 454 downloads
com3 - Compendium of Microbiological Criteria for Food,Australia,2016.pdf 1.02MB 338 downloads
com4 - Micro.criteria for foodstuffs,GSO,2014.pdf 750.43KB 355 downloads
(thanks majoy, jel, et al)
com4b - Microbiological Criteria for Food - GSO-1016-2015.pdf 436.3KB 263 downloads
com5 - Microbiological Guidelines,RTE,Hong Kong,2014.pdf 1.55MB 221 downloads
com6 - NSW,Australia,RTE,microbiological quality guide,2009.pdf 134.22KB 231 downloads(added 220219,thks KfromLA)
com7 - microbiological-standards,RTE,Singapore,2017.pdf 227.27KB 243 downloads
(5-7 added 220219, thks KfromLA for"6")
com8 - IFSA World Food Safety Guidelines for Airline Catering,4th ver,2016.pdf 6.56MB 186 downloads
(there is obviously some cross-borrowing in above files)
PS - you may also find these "popcorn" threads of interest -
http://www.ifsqn.com...isk/?hl=popcorn
http://www.ifsqn.com...-haccp-hazards/
PPS - there is an additional, micro. related, compilation here -