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What's New in Food Microbiology! Amendment 1 to ISO 6887-1!

Normative Values

16 July 2025

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🚨 Standard Alert:
Understand the Impact of Amendment 1 of ISO 6887-1 on Your Microbiological Analyses!

 

The integration of Amendment 1 to ISO 6887-1:2017, “Microbiology of the food chain — Preparation of test samples, initial suspension and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination — Part 1: General rules for the preparation of the initial suspension and decimal dilutions — AMENDMENT 1: Requirements and recommendations on the use of a larger test portion for qualitative methods,” has introduced the following technical modifications:

 

  • Addition of new normative references, notably those related to method validation: ISO 16140-4:2020 and ISO 16140-4:2020/Amd 1:2024.

 

  • Update of the definitions of “Composite sample” and “Pooled sample”. These definitions specify that composite samples are mixtures of a certain number of identical items, prepared either inside or outside the laboratory, from which a test portion is taken for examination. Pooled samples, on the other hand, are mixtures of identical items whose complete mixture constitutes the test portion and is examined as a whole.

 

  • Introduction of the concept of a “larger test portion”, defined as a measured (volume or mass) representative sample taken from the laboratory or test sample, and whose size is greater than that described in the original method or validation document.

 

  • Clarifications on the application of composite samples and larger test portions, emphasizing that the latter applies only to qualitative tests and that only items of the same origin should be grouped or composited.

 

  • Description of the procedure for preparing a “larger test portion” aimed at minimizing the risk of false negatives through:

 

  • Preheating the pre-enrichment diluent while maintaining the proper diluent-to-test portion ratio. In the presence of inhibitory substances in certain products (see ISO 6887-4), this ratio may be increased.
  • Adjusting the temperature and incubation time during the pre-enrichment step.
  • Other instructions described in the test standard may be applied and validated according to the food category.

 

If the laboratory uses a qualitative method already validated for the use of larger test portions, it is only necessary to verify the method according to ISO 16140-3.

If the laboratory uses test portions that exceed the size validated by the original method, it must be validated according to Annex H of ISO 16140-4:2020/Amd 1:2024.

 

Our laboratory has updated its procedures to align with these new requirements and is systematically committed to the verification and/or validation of these methods. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the accuracy of our results and to demonstrate the applicability of the test method to the specific characteristics of your products.

 

Through the technical rigor of our food microbiology analyses, TTS continuously collaborates with you to ensure compliance and the continuous improvement of your products!