4 replies to this topic

[Iswarya]

What does it mean to have a  6.5 log10 (6.5D) reduction in Salmonella spp. (in meat products that contain no poultry) and a 7.0 log10 (7.0D) reduction in Salmonella spp. (in meat products containing poultry).

 

How will you explain the above calculations in layman terms?

[Charles.C]

What does it mean to have a  6.5 log10 (6.5D) reduction in Salmonella spp. (in meat products that contain no poultry) and a 7.0 log10 (7.0D) reduction in Salmonella spp. (in meat products containing poultry).

 

How will you explain the above calculations in layman terms?

Hi iswarya,

 

The math presentation is a bit mixed up.

 

I think you are asking meaning of (a) a reduction of 6.5 Log and (b) a reduction of 7 Log where logarithms of base 10 are involved.

 

I hope link below can explain the calculation OK for you, but you will also need a calculator (or PC) for (a)  -

 

https://microchemlab...crobial-testing

 

you can probably deduce from link that -

 

(b) reduction of 7Log = 99.99999% reduction

 

(a) reduction of 6.5 Log = a %reduction  somewhere between 99.9999% and 99.99999% The exact answer needs a calculator (or excel)  and is given by the formula in above link -

 

P = (1-10^-L) x 100  where P = % reduction and L = log reduction, ie 6.5    

 

So required calculation is P = (1-10^-6.5) x 100

 

I don't have a calculator with me so maybe someone else can do it.

 

(I think you already know that 6.5D = (numerically) a reduction of 6.5Log etc )

 

IF above is bit math-heavy for you, an explanation in more bacterial terms is here -

 

https://www.enduroci...inners-guide-2/

[Ryan M.]

Just picture a "log 10" as one zero in a number.

 

Log 1 = 10

Log 2 = 100

Log 3 = 1,000

Log 4 = 10,000

Log 5 = 100,000

Log 6 = 1,000,000

Log 7 = 10,000,000

 

So log 6.5 is roughly somewhere between 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 salmonella reduced after the cook or other "kill" step.

[Charles.C]

Just picture a "log 10" as one zero in a number.

 

Log 1 = 10

Log 2 = 100

Log 3 = 1,000

Log 4 = 10,000

Log 5 = 100,000

Log 6 = 1,000,000

Log 7 = 10,000,000

 

So log 6.5 is roughly somewhere between 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 salmonella reduced after the cook or other "kill" step.

Sorry but the above is numerically incorrect.

 

For example, -

 

Log1 = Log₁₀ (1) = 0

and -

 

 logarithms.PNG   12.35KB   4 downloads

 

Mathematically -

log_b(x) = y exactly if b^y = x and x >0 and b > 0 and b not = 1

for example, log₂ 64 = 6, as 2⁶ = 64.

Similarly 10⁰ = 1

 

The difficulty derives from the fact that "1 Log" does not equal "Log₁₀(1)"

[Ryan M.]

Woops...you are right.  Thanks for setting me straight.  I was thinking in terms of log reduction; not log10.

Sorry but the above is numerically incorrect.

 

For example, -

 

Log₁₀ (1) = 0

 

and -

 

logarithms.PNG