Predicting the Growth of Microbial Pathogens in Food

摘要

Predictive microbiology has emerged as an important field of applied science that describes the growth, survival and inactivation of microbial pathogens through mathematical expressions. Predictive models are especially useful for estimating responses of pathogens to intrinsic and extrinsic environmental factors that have not been experimentally tested. They are widely used to design and implement Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points food safety systems, including identifying Critical Control Points, associated Critical Limits, and potential remedial actions when process deviations occur. Models are most valuable when they have been validated for specific pathogen-food combinations, and accepted by regulatory agencies for making food safety decision. This chapter discusses key steps in the design, production, and validation of pathogen growth models.