A method for detecting the presence of target micro-organisms in a food sample; said method comprising the following modules: 1. removing large particulates from a liquid comprising a finely divided food sample;2. forming a complex of magnetic solid beads of up to 1000nm (1µm) in size and microorganism in the liquid, wherein either 2i) the complex is formed by a process comprising incubating the resultant liquid product with solid beads and the resultant complex is passed through a column comprising a ferromagnetic fluid permeable matrix material of fibrous ferromagnetic material, said column being under the influence of a magnetic field so that complex is retained thereon; or (2ii) the magnetic solid beads are retained on a ferromagnetic fluid permeable matrix material of fibrous ferromagnetic material within a column under the influence of a magnetic field; and thereafter; 3. detecting target microorganisms retained on the column.
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