ISO 7937: Enumeration and Methods of Analysis of Clostridium perfringens in Foods

Horizontal method for counting Clostridium perfringens - Colony counting technique

What is Clostridium perfringens?

Clostridium perfringens is a bacterium commonly found in the environment and thrives in low oxygen environments. In particular

• Meat and meat products,
• Cooked foods,
• It can be commonly found in ready meals such as soups and sauces.

This bacterium can produce enterotoxins that can cause foodborne illness. Therefore, it is of great importance to determine its presence and quantification in foods.

What is the Purpose of the ISO 7937 Standard?

ISO 7937 provides a method for the determination of Clostridium perfringens in food and feed by colony counting. Standard:

1. To evaluate the hygienic status of foods,
2. Improving the reliability of products,
3. It is applied to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Why is Clostridium perfringens enumeration important?

1. Public Health: This bacterium causes food poisoning, so controlling its presence is essential.
2. Production Hygiene Assessment: High levels of Clostridium perfringens can be an indicator of inadequate hygiene in production processes.
3. Legal Compliance: Food safety regulations require that certain limit values must not be exceeded in food.

What are the Application Areas of ISO 7937?

1. Food Processing Plants: Used for hygiene control and microbial quality monitoring during production.
2. Laboratory Analyses: It is the standard method frequently preferred in food safety tests.
3. Public Health Institutions: It can be used to investigate cases of food poisoning.

Legal Regulations and Legislation

1. Turkish Food Codex Regulation on Microbiological Criteria: Sets limits for the levels of Clostridium perfringens that may be present in foods.
2. European Union Food Safety Regulation (EC 2073/2005): Sets limits for the presence of this bacterium in food in EU Member States.
3. Codex Alimentarius: Regulates Clostridium perfringens levels under international food safety standards.

ISO 7937 is a sensitive method for the determination of Clostridium perfringens by colony counting. This analysis is critical for ensuring microbial safety in food and maintaining hygiene standards in production processes. Regular testing ensures regulatory compliance and contributes to protecting public health.

Nano-lab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Clostridium perfringens Enumeration in Foods. We also provide services for Lactobacillus spp. enumeration.

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