ISO 7218 General Microbiological Practices for Feed Testing
The ISO 7218 standard provides a comprehensive framework for microbiological testing in the agricultural and animal feed industry. This standard is crucial for ensuring that feeds are safe, free from harmful microorganisms, and meet quality standards set by regulatory bodies around the world.
Feed safety is paramount to protect both human health and animal welfare. Contaminated feed can lead to various diseases, including zoonotic infections in humans, and foodborne illnesses. The ISO 7218 standard outlines best practices for sample collection, preparation, inoculation, incubation, identification, and reporting of microbial contamination.
Quality managers and compliance officers rely on this standard to ensure that their operations comply with international regulations. R&D engineers use it as a guide to develop new feed formulations that are microbiologically safe and effective. Procurement teams can leverage ISO 7218 to verify the integrity of raw materials used in feed production.
The standard covers a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses. It also provides detailed procedures for quantifying these organisms using culture-based methods and molecular techniques. The procedures are designed to be robust and reproducible, ensuring consistent results across different laboratories.
One of the key aspects of ISO 7218 is its emphasis on sample preparation. Proper handling of samples is critical in microbiological testing as it can significantly affect the accuracy of test results. The standard provides guidelines for preserving samples to prevent degradation and contamination during transport and storage.
The application of molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been incorporated into ISO 7218, offering a more sensitive and specific method for detecting microorganisms in feed materials. This approach complements traditional culture-based methods by providing faster results and the ability to detect organisms that are difficult or impossible to grow on solid media.
Another important feature of ISO 7218 is its focus on quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC). Laboratories conducting microbiological tests must establish robust QA/QC programs to ensure that their test methods produce accurate, reproducible results. This includes regular calibration of instruments, validation of methods, and proficiency testing.
Given the complexity of feed materials, which can contain a wide variety of microorganisms, it is essential to use appropriate media and reagents for detection. The standard provides recommendations on the selection of these products based on their performance characteristics and compatibility with different types of samples.
| Applied Standards | Description |
|---|---|
| ISO 7218:2015 | Culture-based methods for enumeration of bacteria, yeasts, and molds in feed materials. |
| ISO 16645:2017 | Use of PCR-based methods for detection of microorganisms in feed. |
In conclusion, the ISO 7218 standard is a vital tool for ensuring that agricultural and animal feed products are free from harmful microorganisms. By adhering to this standard, laboratories can provide reliable test results that meet regulatory requirements and industry standards.
Applied Standards
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| ISO 7218:2015 | Culture-based methods for enumeration of bacteria, yeasts, and molds in feed materials. |
| ISO 16645:2017 | Use of PCR-based methods for detection of microorganisms in feed. |
