Understanding Food Microbiology

This essential reference emphasizes the molecular and mechanistic aspects of food microbiology in one comprehensive volume. • Addresses the field's major concerns, including spoilage, pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxigenic molds, viruses, prions, parasites, preservation methods, fermentation, beneficial microorganisms, and food safety. • Details the latest scientific knowledge and concerns of food microbiology • Offers a description of the latest and most advanced techniques for detecting, analyzing, tracking, and controlling microbiological hazards in food. • Serves as significant reference book for professionals who conduct research, teach food microbiology courses, analyze food samples, conduct epidemiologic investigations, and craft food safety policies.

Statistical Aspects of the Microbiological Examination of Foods, Third Edition, updates some important statistical procedures following intensive collaborative work by many experts in microbiology and statistics, and corrects typographic and other errors present in the previous edition. Following a brief introduction to the subject, basic statistical concepts and procedures are described including both theoretical and actual frequency distributions that are associated with the occurrence of microorganisms in foods. This leads into a discussion of the methods for examination of foods and the sources of statistical and practical errors associated with the methods. Such errors are important in understanding the principles of measurement uncertainty as applied to microbiological data and the approaches to determination of uncertainty. The ways in which the concept of statistical process control developed many years ago to improve commercial manufacturing processes can be applied to microbiological examination in the laboratory. This is important in ensuring that laboratory results reflect, as precisely as possible, the microbiological status of manufactured products through the concept and practice of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing. The use of properly validated standard methods of testing and the verification of ‘in house’ methods against internationally validated methods is of increasing importance in ensuring that laboratory results are meaningful in relation to development of and compliance with established microbiological criteria for foods. The final chapter of the book reviews the uses of such criteria in relation to the development of and compliance with food safety objectives. Throughout the book the theoretical concepts are illustrated in worked examples using real data obtained in the examination of foods and in research studies concerned with food safety. Includes additional figures and tables together with many worked examples to illustrate the use of specific procedures in the analysis of data obtained in the microbiological examination of foods Offers completely updated chapters and six new chapters Brings the reader up to date and allows easy access to individual topics in one place Corrects typographic and other errors present in the previous edition

Authoritative coverage presented in a format designed to facilitate teaching and learning.

The golden era of food microbiology has begun. All three areas of food microbiology—beneficial, spoilage, and pathogenic microbiology—are expanding and progressing at an incredible pace. What was once a simple process of counting colonies has become a sophisticated process of sequencing complete genomes of starter cultures and use of biosensors to detect foodborne pathogens. Capturing these developments, Fundamental Food Microbiology, Fifth Edition broadens coverage of foodborne diseases to include new and emerging pathogens as well as descriptions of the mechanism of pathogenesis. Written by experts with approximately fifty years of combined experience, the book provides an in-depth understanding of how to reduce microbial food spoilage, improve intervention technologies, and develop effective control methods for different types of foods. See What’s New in the Fifth Edition: New chapter on microbial attachment and biofilm formation Bacterial quorum sensing during bacterial growth in food Novel application of bacteriophage in pathogen control and detection Substantial update on intestinal beneficial microbiota and probiotics to control pathogens, chronic diseases, and obesity Nanotechnology in food preservation Description of new pathogens such as Cronobacter sakazaki, E. coli O104:H4, Clostridium difficile, and Nipah Virus Comprehensive list of seafood-related toxins Updates on several new anti-microbial compounds such as polylysine, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, ovotransferrin, defensins, herbs, and spices Updates on modern processing technologies such as infrared heating and plasma technology Maintaining the high standard set by the previous bestselling editions, based feedback from students and professors, the new edition includes many more easy-to-follow figures and illustrations. The chapters are presented in a logical sequence that connects the information and allow students to easily understand and retain the concepts presented. These features and more make this a comprehensive introductory text for undergraduates as well as a valuable reference for graduate level and working professionals in food microbiology or food safety.

This fifth edition of Modern Food Microbiology places special emphasis on foodborne microorganisms, as the previous four editions attempted to do. A good understanding of the basic biology offoodborne organisms is more critical for food scientists now than in previous decades. With so many microbiologists in the 1990s devoting their attention to genes and molecules, one objective of this text is to provide a work that places emphasis on entire microbial cells as well as their genes and molecules. For textbook usage, this edition is best suited for a second or subsequent course in microbiology. Although organic chemistry is a desirable prerequisite, those with a good grasp of general biology and chemistry should not find this book difficult. In addition to its use as a course text, this edition, like the previous, contains material that goes beyond what normally is covered in a one-term course. For use as a food microbiology text, suggested starting points are the sections in Chapter 2 that deal with the sources and types of microorganisms in foods followed by the principles outlined in Chapter 3. The food product chapters (Chaps. 4-9) may be covered to the extent that one wishes, but the principles from Chapters 2 and 3 should be stressed during this coverage. A somewhat logical next step would be food preservation methods as outlined in Chapters 13-17 where again the principles from Chapter 3 come into play.

The study of microorganisms that create or contaminate food is known as food microbiology. It is primarily the study of microorganisms that cause food spoilage and pathogens that can cause disease. The possibility of food getting spoilt becomes higher if it is improperly cooked or stored. Food items that are used to produce fermented foods such as cheese, yogurt, beer, wine, bread, and others also get spoilt soon. Various pathogens such as bacteria and viruses are directly transmitted through food. Proper preparation of food, including proper cooking, reduces most pathogens. Many biopolymers which are used in the food industry, are synthesized using microbes. The book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of food microbiology. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. This book is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important field.

Microorganisms are essential for the production of many foods, including cheese, yoghurt, and bread, but they can also cause spoilage and diseases. Quantitative Microbiology of Food Processing: Modeling the Microbial Ecology explores the effects of food processing techniques on these microorganisms, the microbial ecology of food, and the surrounding issues concerning contemporary food safety and stability. Whilst literature has been written on these separate topics, this book seamlessly integrates all these concepts in a unique and comprehensive guide. Each chapter includes background information regarding a specific unit operation, discussion of quantitative aspects, and examples of food processes in which the unit operation plays a major role in microbial safety. This is the perfect text for those seeking to understand the quantitative effects of unit operations and beyond on the fate of foodborne microorganisms in different foods. Quantitative Microbiology of Food Processing is an invaluable resource for students, scientists, and professionals of both food engineering and food microbiology.