Tools
Microbiological criteria are risk management metrics which are used to indicate the acceptability of a food, or the performance of either a process or a food safety control system following the outcome of sampling and testing for microorganisms at a specified point of the food chain. The components of a microbiological criterion include the microbiological limit that is to be implemented, the testing method to be employed, the sampling plan (i.e., size and number of samples to be examined), and the actions to be taken when the microbiological limit is exceeded.
Training Videos on the use of the Microbiological criteria and sampling plan analysis tool.
Cronobacter sakazakii (previously Enterobacter sakazakii) is a gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. On occasion, it has been associated with sporadic cases or small outbreaks of sepsis, meningitis, cerebritis and necrotizing enterocolitis.
The risk assessment presented here addresses powdered infant formula (PIF) that is intrinsically contaminated with C. sakazakii. This risk assessment considers the preparation, storage and feeding of PIF to infants. The model describes the effect that each of the preparation and storage stages has upon the intrinsic microbiological quality of the PIF in terms of C. sakazakii.
This web site provides access to a risk management simulation tool based on the Codex Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat.
The tool can describe the complete production-to-consumption flow path described in the guidelines. These models are referred to as process flows. Users may investigate one or both pathogens and determine which steps to include in the process flow.
The tool is designed to compute the residual risk between a baseline process flow and a process flow applying selected interventions as outlined in the guidelines. The residual risk measure may be used to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the applied interventions.
This tool can explore options for number of samples and concentration thresholds given a histamine concentration limit. This tool can also analyze a specific sampling plan's ability to detect acceptable or non-conforming lots of product.
This Mycotoxin Sampling Tool provides support in analysing performance of sampling plans, and determining the most appropriate plan to meet user’s defined objectives:
- The user can evaluate the effect of varying sampling plan design parameters, such as sample size, on the performance of the sampling plan.
- Using the performance information, the user can determine the most appropriate mycotoxin sampling plan to minimize risk of misclassifying lots considering available resources.