Cereals Analysis for hotels and restaurants.
This table describes a microbiological testing program for cereals and cereal-based foods used or served by hotels and restaurants. It can apply to products such as breakfast cereals, oats, rice, flour-based cereal products, grains, cereal mixes, and other dry or processed cereal foods.
The tests are designed to assess overall microbial quality, foodborne pathogens, hygiene indicators, and fungal contamination. However, limits mentioned could differ case to case.
| Food/Test Category | Microbial Parameters | Analysis Method | Limits |
| Cereals Testing | Standard Plate Count | ISO 4833-1:2013 / AOAC 990.12 | ≤10⁵ CFU/g |
| Salmonella | ISO 6579-1:2017 / AOAC 2003.09 | Absent in 25 g | |
| Clostridium perfringense | ISO 7937:2004 / AOAC 976.30 | <10² CFU/g | |
| Bacillus cereus aand other spp | ISO 7932:2004 / AOAC 980.31 | <10³ CFU/g | |
| Coliforms | ISO 4832:2006 / AOAC 991.14 | <10² CFU/g | |
| Mold | ISO 21527-2:2008 / AOAC 997.02 | ≤10³ CFU/g | |
| Coagulative Staphylococcus | ISO 6888-1:2021 / AOAC 975.55 | <10² CFU/g | |
| Listeria | ISO 11290-1:2017 / AOAC 2004.06 | Absent in 25 g | |
| E.coli | ISO 16649-2:2001 / AOAC 991.14 | <10 CFU/g |
What each test means
| Test / Parameter | Purpose | Method | Meaning of the proposed limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Plate Count | Overall microbial quality | ISO 4833-1:2013 | ≤10⁵ CFU/g means no more than 100,000 CFU/g under the specified method |
| Salmonella | Important foodborne pathogen | ISO 6579-1:2017 | Not detected in the specified 25-g test portion |
| Clostridium perfringens | Indicator of poor processing/storage and potential food-safety risk | ISO 7937:2004 — now withdrawn | <10² CFU/g means fewer than 100 CFU/g |
| Presumptive Bacillus cereus | Important spore-forming organism associated with cereals and other foods | ISO 7932:2004 | <10³ CFU/g means fewer than 1,000 CFU/g |
| Coliforms | Hygiene/contamination indicator | ISO 4832:2006 | <10² CFU/g means fewer than 100 CFU/g |
| Yeast & Mold | Fungal contamination/spoilage | ISO 21527-2:2008, where applicable | ≤10³ CFU/g means no more than 1,000 CFU/g |
| Coagulase-positive Staphylococci | Hygiene/handling contamination indicator | ISO 6888-1:2021 | <10² CFU/g means fewer than 100 CFU/g |
| Listeria | Foodborne pathogen | ISO 11290-1:2017 | Not detected in specified test portion |
| E. coli | Hygiene/fecal contamination indicator | ISO 16649-2:2001 | <10 CFU/g means fewer than 10 CFU/g |