ISO 15213-2-2023 PDF

Full title and description

Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the detection and enumeration of Clostridium spp. — Part 2: Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens by colony‑count technique. This international standard specifies a colony‑count procedure for enumeration of Clostridium perfringens in foods, feed and related environmental samples, including validation notes for multiple food categories.

Abstract

ISO 15213-2:2023 defines a horizontal colony‑count technique to enumerate C. perfringens. The method is applicable to products intended for human or animal consumption, environmental samples from food/feed production and handling, and (with caveats) samples from primary production. The standard includes validation results from an interlaboratory study for several food categories (ready‑to‑eat/reheat meats, egg products, processed fruits and vegetables, infant formula/cereals and multi‑component foods) and notes minimum colony‑count expectations (technique suited to samples yielding at least 10 colonies per plate, corresponding roughly to >10 cfu/ml for liquids or >100 cfu/g for solids).

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 16 November 2023 (Edition 1, 2023‑11).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) / ISO/TC 34/SC 9.
• ICS / categories: 07.100.30 (Food microbiology).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2023).
• Number of pages: 44 pages (published ISO doc; national catalogues report similar pagination).

Scope

The document specifies a colony‑count enumeration method for Clostridium perfringens applicable to foodstuffs, animal feed, and environmental samples connected to food/feed production and handling. Where validated, the method can be used across a broad range of food categories; primary production samples are included in scope but were not covered by the interlaboratory validation, so performance characteristics for that category are not provided.

Key topics and requirements

• Target organism: Clostridium perfringens (enumeration by colony‑count technique).
• Detailed procedures for sample preparation, dilution, plating and incubation under appropriate anaerobic conditions.
• Performance/validation information from interlaboratory study for specified food categories (meat products, egg products, processed produce, infant formula/cereals, multi‑component foods).
• Guidance on interpretation of colony counts (minimum count expectations and conversion to cfu/ml or cfu/g).
• Alignment with the horizontal ISO 15213 series (harmonized approach across Clostridium spp. enumeration methods).

Typical use and users

Used by food and feed microbiology laboratories, quality control and assurance teams in food manufacturing, regulatory and public‑health laboratories, contract testing laboratories and research groups investigating Clostridium contamination or verifying processing and storage controls. Laboratories adopt the method for routine enumeration, product release testing, outbreak investigation support, and validation studies.

Related standards

ISO 15213-2:2023 is part of the ISO 15213 series. ISO 15213-1:2023 covers enumeration of sulfite‑reducing Clostridium spp. by colony‑count technique; a Part 3 addressing detection of C. perfringens has been planned/published as a companion document in the series. ISO 15213-2:2023 replaces ISO 7937:2004 (earlier colony‑count method for C. perfringens).

Keywords

Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium spp., colony‑count, enumeration, food microbiology, horizontal method, ISO 15213, food safety, feed microbiology, anaerobic incubation.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: An ISO horizontal method (Part 2 of the ISO 15213 series) that specifies a colony‑count technique to enumerate Clostridium perfringens in foods, feed and related environmental samples.

Q: What does it cover?

A: Procedure details (sample preparation, dilutions, plating, anaerobic incubation, colony counting), validation/performance information for multiple food categories, and guidance on interpreting colony counts (including minimum colony count considerations).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Food/feed testing laboratories, QC/QA teams in industry, public‑health and regulatory laboratories, contract testing providers and researchers involved in microbiological safety and quality of the food chain.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current (published 16 November 2023). It supersedes ISO 7937:2004 for the colony‑count technique for C. perfringens.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 15213 is a multi‑part series. Part 1 (ISO 15213‑1:2023) covers sulfite‑reducing Clostridium spp. enumeration; Part 2 is this document; Part 3 (detection of C. perfringens) has been developed/planned as the complementary document in the series.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Clostridium perfringens, colony‑count, enumeration, food microbiology, horizontal method, ISO 15213.