Overview
EN ISO 22964:2017 - Microbiology of the food chain: Horizontal method for the detection of Cronobacter spp. - specifies a harmonized laboratory procedure for detecting Cronobacter species in foodstuffs, animal feed and environmental samples from food production and handling areas. This ISO/CEN horizontal method defines the overall testing workflow (pre-enrichment, selective enrichment, isolation on chromogenic agar and confirmation) and sets out performance-characteristic considerations for reliable detection in the food chain.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applicable to food products/ingredients for human consumption and animal feeding, and environmental samples in food production/handling, subject to limitations noted in the standard.
- Test principle: A staged workflow including non‑selective pre-enrichment (buffered peptone water, BPW), selective enrichment (Cronobacter selective broth, CSB), plating on chromogenic Cronobacter isolation (CCI) agar and subsequent confirmation.
- Culture media & reagents: Composition, preparation and performance testing of media and reagents are specified (see Annex B).
- Procedure elements: Sampling, preparation of test portions, pre-enrichment, selective enrichment, isolation of presumptive colonies and biochemical confirmation (purification and confirmation tests). A normative diagram of the test procedure is provided (Annex A).
- Performance characteristics: Method validation topics such as interlaboratory study, sensitivity, specificity and limit of detection (LOD) are addressed (Annex D).
- Supporting guidance: Informative annexes help distinguish Cronobacter from similar genera and summarize validation data (Annex C, D).
- Documentation: Requirements for recording and reporting test results and method performance are included.
Practical applications
- Food safety testing: Routine screening of powdered infant formula ingredients, foods, and feed materials where Cronobacter is a concern.
- Environmental monitoring: Surveillance of production and processing environments to prevent contamination.
- Regulatory compliance & accreditation: Provides a standardized method for laboratories seeking consistent, internationally recognized test results and supports conformity assessment and audit evidence.
- Method validation & R&D: Useful for laboratories developing or comparing detection workflows and for interlaboratory studies.
Who should use this standard
- Food and feed microbiology laboratories
- Quality assurance and food safety professionals in manufacturing
- Regulatory agencies and inspection bodies
- Laboratory accreditation assessors and method validation specialists
Related standards
Normative references cited include ISO 6887 (sample preparation), ISO 7218 (general microbiological requirements) and ISO 11133 (culture media preparation and performance). EN ISO 22964:2017 supersedes ISO/TS 22964:2006 and incorporates key method updates (e.g., CSB and CCI agar).
Keywords: EN ISO 22964:2017, Cronobacter spp. detection, food microbiology, horizontal method, food safety standard, CCI agar, Cronobacter selective broth.