DIN EN ISO 4833-2:2014-05

This International Standard specifies a horizontal 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. Application of this part of the standard is recommended: - if it is likely that heat-sensitive organisms 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); - if it is likely that obligately aerobic bacteria form a significant proportion of the total flora (for example Pseudomonas spp.); - for products that contain small particles that can prove difficult to distinguish from colonies in a pour plate; - for intensively coloured products whose colour prevents the recognition of colonies in a pour plate; - and if a distinction between different types of colony is required as part of the assessment of food quality. Furthermore, the use of a spiral plater is described which represents a precise and rapid method of performing surface colony counts. The application of this International Standard for 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 to support consumer health protection and quality assurance. The responsible body for this standard is Working Committee NA 057-01-06 AA "Mikrobiologische Lebensmitteluntersuchung einschließlich Schnellverfahren" ("Microbiological analysis of foodstuffs including rapid method") at DIN.