Pathogen flora in cheese - 4 criteria♦ - 2025

Proficiency testing

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Introduction

The proficiency testings and criteria marked with an are covered by the « accréditation n° 1-2473, comparaisons interlaboratoires, portée disponible sur www.cofrac.fr »/« n° 1-2473 accreditation, interlaboratory comparisons, scope available on www.cofrac.fr », and detailed flexible scope available there

 

- We propose tests for the enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in milk and cheese which must not be mistaken for tests for detection of Listeria.

- The tests for the detection of Salmonella do not concern Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi.

- The enumeration of sulphite-reducing Clostridium spp., Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus concerns non-spore-forming bacteria. The analysis must be carried out without heat treatment.

In accordance with ISO 15213-1:2023, “ASR bacteria” is used if no confirmation step of characteristic colonies is carried out. If characteristic colonies are confirmed, the “Clostridium spp. sulphite-reducing agents” term is then applied.

- We draw your attention to the fact that we don’t contaminate our samples with collection strains but with strains isolated from dairy food matrices. Therefore, it is possible that some of them present unexpected phenotypic characteristics on some culture media.

 

The fat content of the cheese to be analyzed is less than 20%


Methods / Analytes

detection of Listeria and Salmonella,

- enumeration of coagulase positive staphylococci and Escherichia coli

free choice of methods


Number of samples

→ 5 samples containing between about:
- absence or presence of Listeria in 25 g of cheese and identification of the species, includedListeria monocytogenes
- absence or presence of Salmonella in 25 g of cheese
- 0 and 10 000 coagulase positive staphylococci/g
- 0 and 100 000 Escherichia coli/g

→1 vial of water to control the temperature of the samples at reception


Packaging

about 100 g in 120 ml safety vials with locked lids


Preservation

storage at 3 (± 2) °C, with a bacteriostatic mixture preventing any bacterial growth in the milk, but rendered inactive upon dilution


Dispatch

in IATA certified secondary packaging (biohazard), in insulated box with ice packs by express carrier (see regulation for shipping times)


Storage in the laboratory

at 3 (± 2) °C


Validity of the samples

analyses must be carried out within 3 days after the date of dispatch


Calendar of dispatch :

 

Sample dispatch 2025/06/24 2025/11/18
Return of results to ACTALIA Cecalait 2025/07/08 2025/12/02

Subscription at least 10 days before each dispatch

Rates

Members Non-members
Registration fees per shipment 73.37 € 109.99 €
Participation fee per tested method 73.37 € 109.99 €


Special conditions :

  • For groups from 10 to 24 participating laboratories: 10 % discount,
  • For groups from 25 participating laboratories: 15 % discount

Payment conditions :

within 1 month of receiving invoice

Formulas

  • Detection of Listeria
  • Detection of Salmonella
  • Enumeration of staphylococci
  • Enumeration of Escherichia coli




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Contact us

ACTALIA Cecalait

Rue de Versailles
BP 70129
39801 POLIGNY CEDEX
FRANCE

Tel : +33 (0)3 84 73 63 20
Fax : +33 (0)3 84 73 63 29

cecalait[at]actalia.eu

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