Phone No.
(780) 450-3957
Many food manufacturers receive Enterobacteriaceae results but are unsure how to interpret them.
Unlike Salmonella spp. or Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacteriaceae are generally used as indicator organisms rather than specific pathogens.
A high result does not automatically mean food is unsafe.
However, elevated Enterobacteriaceae counts may indicate sanitation issues, process control concerns, environmental contamination, or ingredient quality problems.
Understanding what the result means helps manufacturers identify risks and improve food safety systems before larger problems occur.
PBR Laboratories provides Enterobacteriaceae testing, food microbiology testing, environmental monitoring, and food safety support throughout Alberta, Western Canada, and Canada.
Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of bacteria commonly found in:
Soil
Water
Plants
Animals
Food processing environments
Raw ingredients
The family includes many organisms, including:
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Salmonella spp.
Enterobacter spp.
Klebsiella spp.
Citrobacter spp.
Serratia spp.
Most Enterobacteriaceae testing is not intended to identify individual species.
Instead, it measures the overall presence of organisms within this bacterial family.
Enterobacteriaceae are commonly used as indicators of:
Because these organisms are widespread in the environment, elevated counts may indicate conditions that support contamination.
Results are typically reported as:
Examples:
• <10 CFU/g
• 100 CFU/g
• 1,000 CFU/g
• 10,000 CFU/g
Examples:
• <10 CFU/mL
• 100 CFU/mL
• 1,000 CFU/mL
The significance of a result depends on:
Product type
Manufacturing process
Product specifications
Historical trends
Customer requirements
Low counts generally suggest:
Low results do not guarantee the absence of pathogens but may indicate strong overall hygiene performance.
Elevated counts may indicate:
Potential sanitation deficiencies.
Introduction of organisms from production environments.
Incoming materials contributing microbial loads.
Conditions allowing microbial growth or contamination.
Difficult-to-clean areas contributing contamination.
Incoming ingredients may contribute elevated counts.
Personnel practices may affect contamination levels.
Inadequately cleaned equipment may contribute contamination.
Floors, drains, air movement, and production environments.
Movement of materials or equipment between areas.
Manufacturers often confuse these tests.
A smaller group of bacteria often used as indicators of sanitation and water quality.
A broader bacterial family providing more comprehensive hygiene information.
Simple Comparison
Total Coliforms are part of the Enterobacteriaceae family.
However, Enterobacteriaceae testing evaluates a much larger group of organisms.
A specific organism commonly used as a hygiene indicator.
A broader bacterial family that includes E. coli and many other organisms.
A product may have:
Low E. coli counts and elevated Enterobacteriaceae
Elevated Enterobacteriaceae without pathogen detection
Acceptable Enterobacteriaceae results but other microbiological concerns
Each test provides different information.
Determine whether results are increasing or recurring.
Review: Cleaning procedures, sanitation verification, corrective actions.
Assess potential environmental contamination sources.
Determine whether ingredients may contribute elevated counts.
Evaluate: Time controls, temperature controls, product handling practices.
Additional testing may include:
Aerobic Plate Count (APC)
Total Coliforms
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Food Pathogen Testing
Environmental Monitoring
Assess cleaning effectiveness.
Evaluate manufacturing conditions.
Assess incoming materials.
Identify contamination trends.
Support contamination investigations.
Improve food safety and quality systems.
"High Enterobacteriaceae Means Pathogens Are Present"
False.
Elevated counts do not automatically indicate pathogen contamination.
"Enterobacteriaceae Testing Replaces Pathogen Testing"
False.
Pathogen testing and indicator testing serve different purposes.
"One High Result Means Product Is Unsafe"
False.
Results should be interpreted within the context of product specifications and manufacturing conditions.
"Only High-Risk Foods Require Testing"
False.
Enterobacteriaceae testing can provide valuable information across many food categories.
Enterobacteriaceae testing helps manufacturers:
Monitor hygiene performance
Verify sanitation effectiveness
Evaluate ingredient quality
Investigate contamination events
Improve process controls
Strengthen food safety programs
The test is most valuable when used as an early warning indicator before larger food safety issues develop.
A large family of bacteria commonly used as indicators of hygiene and process control.
Not necessarily. The family includes both pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms.
Typically as Colony Forming Units per Gram (CFU/g) or Colony Forming Units per Millilitre (CFU/mL).
Not automatically. Results should be interpreted alongside product specifications, process information, and other microbiological data.
To evaluate sanitation effectiveness, process control, environmental hygiene, and ingredient quality.
Aerobic Plate Count (APC), Total Coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Food Pathogen Testing.
PBR Laboratories provides Enterobacteriaceae testing, Aerobic Plate Count (APC) testing, Total Coliform testing, food microbiology testing, environmental monitoring, and food pathogen testing services throughout Alberta, Western Canada, and Canada.
Contact PBR to discuss microbiological results, sanitation verification programs, environmental monitoring strategies, ingredient quality concerns, and food safety objectives.
Choose PBR – Because Precision Matters, Defining Excellence in Laboratory Services Since 1984.