Predictive food microbiology for the meat industry: a review

• Published in: International journal of food microbiology Vol. 52; no. 1-2; pp. 1 - 27
• Main Authors: McDonald, K. (Dublin Univ. Coll. (Ireland). Dept. of Agricultural and Food Engineering), Sun, D.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier 01.11.1999
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; CARNE; Cattle; Consumer Behavior; Food industries; Food Microbiology; FOOD SAFETY; Foodborne Diseases - prevention & control; Forecasting; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; INDUSTRIA DE LA CARNE; INDUSTRIE DE LA VIANDE; INNOCUITE DES PRODUITS ALIMENTAIRES; INOCUIDAD ALIMENTARIA; MEAT; Meat and meat product industries; MEAT INDUSTRY; Meat Products - microbiology; Meat-Packing Industry - methods; Meat-Packing Industry - standards; MICROBIOLOGIA; MICROBIOLOGIE; MICROBIOLOGY; MODELE; MODELOS; Models, Biological; predictive food microbiology; Risk Assessment; Swine; VIANDE; Microorganism interrelationships; Microbiology; Food security; Prediction; Meat product; Meat processing plant; Review; Mathematical model; Biological contamination; Meat
• ISSN: 0168-1605; 1879-3460
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-1605(99)00126-9

Predictive food microbiology (PFM) is an emerging multidisciplinary area of food microbiology. It encompasses such disciplines as mathematics, microbiology, engineering and chemistry to develop and apply mathematical models to predict the responses of microorganisms to specified environmental variables. This paper provides a critical review on the development of mathematical modelling with emphasis on modelling techniques, descriptions, classifications and their recent advances. It is concluded that the role and accuracy of predictive food microbiology will increase as understanding of the complex interactions between microorganisms and food becomes clearer. However the reliance of food microbiology on laboratory techniques and skilled personnel to determine process and food safety is still necessary.