DIN EN ISO 4833-2:2013-12

This International Standard specifies a horizontal test method for enumeration of microorganisms that are able to grow and form colonies on the surface of a solid medium after aerobic incubation at 30 °C. The method is applicable to: - products intended for human consumption or for animal feed; - environmental samples in the area of food and feed production and food handling. The application of this part of the standard is recommended for: - products containing heat-sensitive organisms that are likely to form a significant proportion of the total flora (for example psychrotrophic organisms in chilled and frozen foods, dried foods, other foods that may contain heat-sensitive organisms); - products containing obligately aerobic bacteria that are likely to form a significant proportion of the total flora (for example Pseudomonas spp.); - products that contain small particles that can prove difficult to distinguish from colonies in a pour plate; - products whose intense colour prevents the recognition of colonies in a pour plate; - products for which distinction between different types of colony is required as part of the assessment of food quality. This part also describes the use of a spiral plater, an exact and rapid method of performing surface colony counts. The applicability of this International Standard to the examination of certain fermented food and animal feeds is limited. Other media and/or incubation conditions can be more appropriate. However, this method may be applied to such products even though it is possible that the predominant microorganisms in these products are not detected effectively. The standard is intended for legal consumer protection and quality assurance. The committee responsible for this standard is NA 057-01-06 AA "Mikrobiologische Lebensmitteluntersuchung einschließlich Schnellverfahren" ("Microbiological analysis of foodstuffs including rapid method") at DIN.