scope:

This International Standard specifies a horizontal method for enumeration of microorganisms growing in a solid medium after aerobic incubation at 30ºC. The method is applicable to: - products intended for human consumption or for animal feeding stuffs; - environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling. This part of the Standard is recommended for use: - to obtain a reliable count when a low limit of detection is specified (below 102/g or ml for liquid samples or below 103/g for solid samples); - for products expected to contain spreading colonies that will obscure colonies of other organisms eg: milk and milk products likely to contain spreading Bacillus species. The applicability of this International Standard to the examination of certain fermented food and animal feeding stuffs is limited and other media and/or incubation conditions may be more appropriate. However this method may be applied to such products even though the predominant microorganisms in those products may not be detected effectively.