GOST 31747-2012 PDF
Name in English:
GOST 31747-2012
Name in Russian:
ГОСТ 31747-2012
Food products. Methods for detection and quantity determination of coliformes
Full title and description
GOST 31747-2012 — "Food products. Methods for detection and quantity determination of coliformes" (Продукты пищевые. Методы выявления и определения количества бактерий группы кишечных палочек (колиформных бактерий)). The standard specifies procedures for detecting the presence of coliform bacteria in food samples and for determining their quantity using recognized microbiological techniques.
Abstract
This national (GOST) standard defines a detection method for coliform bacteria in food (excluding milk and dairy products) and provides three enumeration approaches: the most probable number (MPN) method and culture-based methods using selective diagnostic agar media (pour or surface inoculation). It is intended to harmonize laboratory practice for identification and counting of coliforms in food safety and quality control testing.
General information
- Status: Active / in force (introduced for the first time; effective).
- Publication date: Published/entered into effect 01 July 2013 (approved by the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology in late 2012).
- Publisher: Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (Rosstandart) / Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (developer listed as a national research institute).
- ICS / categories: Food technology / Food microbiology — ICS code area 07.100.30 (food microbiology) and related 67.050 (general methods of tests and analysis for food products).
- Edition / version: Original issue — GOST 31747-2012 (adopted 2012, implemented 2013).
- Number of pages: 19 pages (standard text length as published).
Scope
The standard applies to food products except milk and dairy products. It establishes: a procedure to detect the presence of coliform bacteria in a specified portion of food, and three methods for quantitative determination — the most probable number (MPN) technique and culture-based plating methods on selective diagnostic agars (including pour and surface inoculation as appropriate for the sample and matrix). The procedures are intended for use in food microbiology laboratories performing safety and quality testing.
Key topics and requirements
- Definitions and terminology related to coliforms and relevant colony types.
- Sample preparation and handling requirements for solid and semi-solid food matrices.
- Qualitative detection procedure for presence/absence of coliforms in a test portion.
- Quantitative methods: most probable number (MPN) enumeration, and plating on selective diagnostic media (pour and surface techniques) for colony counting (CFU-based results).
- Incubation conditions, interpretation of typical and atypical colonies, and confirmatory tests (e.g., oxidase/Gram-stain guidance where applicable).
- Reporting formats and expression of results (MPN per g/ml or colony counts per g/ml as appropriate).
Typical use and users
This standard is used by food microbiology and quality-control laboratories, public health authorities, food producers and processors, regulatory inspectors, and testing/service laboratories that perform microbiological safety testing of foods (excluding dairy). It supports internal quality control, compliance testing for regulatory requirements, and routine surveillance of food products for coliform contamination.
Related standards
GOST 31747-2012 belongs to a family of food microbiology and testing standards issued around the same period (other related standards include GOST 31746-2012 and GOST 31904-2012 which cover complementary microbiological test methods and sampling procedures). Laboratories should consult associated GOST/ISO/EN methods for additional organism-specific or matrix-specific procedures.
Keywords
coliforms, coli-forms, food microbiology, most probable number (MPN), colony forming units (CFU), selective media, agar plating, detection, enumeration, food safety, Rosstandart, GOST 31747-2012.
FAQ
Q: What is this standard?
A: GOST 31747-2012 is a Russian GOST standard titled "Food products. Methods for detection and quantity determination of coliformes" that specifies laboratory methods to detect and enumerate coliform bacteria in food matrices (except milk and dairy products).
Q: What does it cover?
A: It covers a qualitative detection method and three quantitative approaches (MPN and plating on selective diagnostic agars) including sample preparation, incubation conditions, colony interpretation and result reporting for coliforms in food.
Q: Who typically uses it?
A: Food testing laboratories, manufacturers' QA/QC labs, regulatory agencies, and testing service providers involved in food safety and microbiological quality control (non-dairy food products).
Q: Is it current or superseded?
A: As published, GOST 31747-2012 was introduced into force in 2013 and is listed as active / in force in current public catalogs. Users should verify the current legal/technical status with their national standards body or Rosstandart for any amendments or replacements since adoption.
Q: Is it part of a series?
A: Yes — it is part of a group of GOST standards on food microbiology and methods of analysis issued in the same timeframe; laboratories commonly use it alongside complementary standards that cover sampling, other organism groups, and specific analytical techniques.
Q: What are the key keywords?
A: Coliforms, food microbiology, MPN, CFU, selective media, agar plating, detection, enumeration, food safety.