Food microbiology is the study of microorganisms that play major roles in food processing and preservation , general food quality, and may even occur naturally within certain food types. It is important to understand these microorganisms and their relation to the food industry in terms of food spoilage, food-borne illness, or food-related intoxication. Microbiological testing in food is one of the most critical aspects of Food Safety.
AES Labs has a full-service analytical microbiological testing laboratory with a record of expertise in food safety and food microbiology testing. We are committed to providing quality laboratory test results through rapid turnaround time, outstanding technical support, and personalised customer service. Below we list a number of our food microbiology testing specialties. As a high profile food microbiology testing lab, AES adheres to strict standards so that our clients can trust their results. We aim to make food microbiology testing effective, consistent, and accurate.
Sample collection plays an extremely important role in the analysis of food, as sample integrity can have a major effect on the analytical results. Our team of highly trained sample collection technicians follows stringent sampling procedures to ensure that the sample integrity is maintained right from collection till the sample reaches the laboratory for analysis.
Strict aseptic techniques are utilised for collection of samples for microbiological analysis. The laboratory follows national and international analytical methods for microbial analysis. Methods include BIS, APHA, USFDA (BAM) AOAC, & USDA.
We carry out microbiological testing in the following:
- Food & Feed including raw food, packaged food, processed food, cooked food, drinking water etc.
- Packaging materials
- Environmental Hygiene Monitoring
- Workspace/Clean room monitoring
- Surface and equipment cleanliness (swabs)
Some of the following microbes are covered under food microbiology testing are:
Indicator Organisms:
- Aerobic Plate Count
- Anaerobic Plate Count
- Total coliform
- Generic E. coli
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Mesophillic Aerobic and Anaerobic Sporeformers
- Thermophillic Aerobic and Anaerobic Sporeformers
- Yeast and Mold Count
Pathogen Detection:
- Bacillus Cereus
- Campylobacter species
- Clostridium species
- Clostridium perfringens
- E. coli O157:H7
- Listeria species/Listeria monocytogenes
- Pseudomonas species
- Salmonella species
- Staphylococcus aureus
Environmental Hygiene Monitoring
AES can help with food factory hygiene by testing swabs which are used to monitor the effectiveness of the food factory cleaning program. Food manufacturing environmental monitoring is often used to validate critical control points highlighted through HACCP.
Food Factory Environmental Hygiene is an essential part of food production and it forms part of HACCP, due diligence, and is inspected by regulatory and customer auditors.
AES provide the following Environmental Testing:
- Surface Swabs
- Hand Swabs
- Listeria Swabs
- Air Monitoring