ISO 22964-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the detection of Cronobacter spp. — an international standard specifying a horizontal laboratory method for detecting Cronobacter species in food products, ingredients and relevant environmental samples associated with food production and handling.

Abstract

ISO 22964:2017 defines a standardized (horizontal) microbiological procedure for the detection of Cronobacter spp. in food and environmental matrices related to the food chain. The method covers sampling considerations, enrichment and selective isolation, confirmation steps and reporting of results; it is intended to support food safety testing, regulatory compliance and quality control, especially for products where Cronobacter is of particular concern (e.g., powdered infant formula and ingredients).

General information

• Status: Published / Active
• Publication date: April 2017
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 07.100.30; 67.100.01
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017)
• Number of pages: 23

Scope

ISO 22964:2017 is applicable, subject to the limitations described in its introduction, to food products and ingredients intended for human consumption and animal feeding, and to environmental samples taken in areas of food production and food handling. It specifies a horizontal detection method for Cronobacter spp. — i.e., a method intended for broad application across multiple food matrices rather than a matrix-specific protocol.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of the target organisms (Cronobacter spp.) and intended application domains.
• Requirements for sample preparation and representative sampling from food and environmental matrices.
• Prescribed enrichment procedures to improve recovery of stressed or low-level cells.
• Use of selective media and isolation steps to obtain presumptive colonies.
• Confirmation procedures (biochemical and/or molecular tests) to confirm Cronobacter identification.
• Interpretation and reporting of presence/absence results and method limitations.
• Performance characteristics and validation expectations for laboratories using the method (interlaboratory validation has been reported in the literature).

Typical use and users

Primary users are accredited food microbiology laboratories, public health and regulatory laboratories, quality-control teams in food manufacturing (notably manufacturers and testers of powdered infant formula and related ingredients), and research laboratories validating detection workflows. The standard is used to harmonize detection results across laboratories, support compliance with microbiological criteria, and provide a reference method for method validation or verification.

Related standards

EN ISO 22964:2017 — the CEN/CENELEC adoption of ISO 22964:2017 — exists where the ISO text has been endorsed for use as a European standard. ISO/TS 22964:2006 is the earlier technical specification that was withdrawn and replaced by this 2017 ISO standard. Laboratories implementing ISO 22964:2017 will often also refer to standards on culture media preparation and method validation (e.g., ISO 11133 series and other ISO/CEN horizontal microbiology methods) when establishing routine workflows.

Keywords

Cronobacter, Cronobacter spp., microbiology of the food chain, detection method, enrichment, selective isolation, confirmation, infant formula, food safety, ISO 22964:2017.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 22964:2017 is an international standard that specifies a horizontal laboratory method for the detection of Cronobacter species in food products, ingredients and environmental samples associated with food production and handling. It provides procedural steps from sampling through confirmation to reporting.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling considerations, enrichment and selective isolation techniques, criteria for presumptive colonies, confirmatory testing (biochemical and/or molecular), interpretation of results and specified limitations on applicability across matrices.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Accredited food testing and public health laboratories, manufacturers' quality-control teams (especially in infant formula and ingredient production), regulatory authorities and researchers validating detection methods.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 22964:2017 is the current published international standard (published April 2017). It replaced the earlier ISO/TS 22964:2006 technical specification; users should check with their national standards body for any subsequent confirmations, amendments or newer revisions before implementation.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the ISO "Microbiology of the food chain" family of horizontal methods and is coordinated under ISO/TC 34/SC 9. Laboratories commonly use it alongside other horizontal microbiology standards (media preparation, validation and organism-specific methods) to build a complete testing program.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Cronobacter, detection, enrichment, selective isolation, confirmation, infant formula, food safety, horizontal method, ISO 22964.