Guidelines for the microbiological examination
of ready - to - eat foods
( December 2001)
Introduction
Samples collected for surveillance and monitoring purposes are often multi-component
products for which there are no microbiological standards or guidelines. Interpreting the
significance of the types and levels of microorganisms reported when these foods are tested
may therefore be difficult. The purpose of this document is to provide assistance in the
interpretation of microbiological analyses of foods where no other microbiological criteria
exist.