Microbiological End Product Testing

Foodborne disease is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages.  More than 250 different foodborne diseases have been described caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites.  Poor manufacturing processes or poor food preparation can allow microbes to grow in food.  Seafood may become contaminated during harvesting or through processing.

Food safety legislation changed on 1st January 2006.  Regulation 852/2004 (EC) requires food business operators to implement and maintain a permanent procedure based on the principles of hazard analysis critical control points (HACCP).

Microbiological monitoring can be used in the validation and verification of HACCP procedures and other hygiene controls.  Our microbiological department at Integrin offers customer specific technical and monitoring advice to help assure the quality of your food products.

Some of the microorganisms that we at Integrin provide testing for include:

Norovirus - is estimated to cause millions of cases of gastroenteritis world wide each year.  Of viruses, only the common cold is reported more often.  Norovirus is transmitted primarily through the faecal-oral route and fewer than 100 norovirus particles are said to be needed to cause infection.  At Integrin we use a very sensitive and rapid molecular technique (Real-Time PCR), in order to detect norovirus in shellfish.

Escherichia coli - the presence of E.coli in food is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of faecal origin may be present.

Coliform bacteria - are commonly used as bacterial indicators of the sanitary quality of foods and water.

Enterobacteriaceae - their presence is used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of faecal origin may be present.

Aerobic colony count (ACC) - estimates the number of viable aerobic bacteria per g or ml of product.  Aerobic colony counts on shellfish and fishery products can be useful to indicate quality, shelf life and post heat-processing contamination.

Staphylococcus aureus - staphylococci exist in air, dust, sewage, water, milk, and food or on food equipment, environmental surfaces, humans, and animals.  Human intoxication is caused by ingesting enterotoxins produced in food by some strains of S. aureus.

All of the above mentioned bacteria are tested for using 3M Petrifilm plates: all plates are manufactured at an ISO 9001-certified site and are AOAC International and/or AFNOR approved methods

Salmonella spp - for food products it is unacceptable to have any salmonella in the product.  Detection of Salmonella is carried out using a culture method based on primary enrichment in buffered peptone water followed by secondary enrichment, and selective plating.

Confirmation Analysis: The Microgen ID kit which is an AOAC International approved method, is used for the confirmation of colonies suspected to be Salmonella.

Clostridium botulinum - almost any type of food that is not very acid (pH above 4.6) can support growth and toxin production by C. botulinum.  Botulinum toxin has been demonstrated in a considerable variety of foods, such as canned foods, lobster, and smoked and salted fish.  Products that have a storage temperature of >3^oC to 5^oC are required to have a water phase salt content of between 3-3.5%.  This in combination with chilling can significantly delay toxin production.

Listeria monocytogenes - has been associated with such foods as raw milk, raw vegetables, fermented raw-meat sausages, raw and cooked poultry, raw meats (all types), and raw and smoked fish.  Its ability to grow at temperatures as low as 3^oC permits multiplication in refrigerated foods.  Detection of Listeria species is carried out using a culture method with one 48 hr enrichement stage.

Confirmation Analysis: The Microgen ID kit which is an AOAC International approved method, is used for the confirmation of colonies suspected to be Listeria monocytogenes.

Please click below for the conditions of service:

PDF version for the Water analysis standard conditions of service

PDF version for the Environmental monitoring standard conditions of service

E.coli MPN Testing - Integrin is UKAS accredited for the testing of E.coli using the MPN method.

PDF version of our UKAS accreditation schedule


Please click on the links below for the conditions of service and submission sheet for samples.  

PDF version of the E.coli submission sheet. 

PDF version of the E.coli MPN standard condition of service.