scope:

This International Standard gives general guidelines for the enumeration of coliforms. It is applicable to

- products intended for human consumption and for the feeding of animals, and

- environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling,

by means of the technique of counting colonies after incubation on a solid medium at 30 °C or at 37 °C.

NOTE The temperature is subject to agreement between the parties concerned. In the case of milk and milk products, the temperature of incubation is 30 °C.

This technique is recommended when the number of colonies sought is expected to be more than 100 per millilitre or per gram of the test sample.