Source: CDCAerobic bacteria (bacteria that require oxygen to live and thrive), like you and I, appreciate a chance to take a breath and reflect on plans for the future. Single-cell life isn’t so easy, after all! Aerobic bacteria may wonder,” what will happen when I grow up/divide?” and, “Should I go into spoilage or perhaps foodborne illness?” Whatever the case, they sure are busy!
Their oxygen-loving (to merely tolerating) ways make them a desirable key target in the fight against contamination and product spoilage. Opposed to isolating and identifying specific aerobic bacteria, Aerobic Plate Count (APC) tests are utilized as general indicators of the presence of aerobic bacteria. Counting these aerobic colonies, as R. Dale Morton explains in the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods 4th Ed., “can be used successfully to gauge sanitary quality, organoleptic acceptability, adherence to good manufacturing practices and, to a lesser extent as an indicator of safety" (63).
Nelson-Jameson handles an array of APC products, including the recently launched 3M Petrifilm Rapid Aerobic Count Plates. The product “facilitates colony enumeration in just 24 hours for most food matrices / environmental samples and resists distortion caused by spreader colonies.”
To learn more about aerobic bacteria click here. For more information on APC products, including the new 3M Petrifilm Rapid Aerobic Count Plates email Jessica Goessl, Technical Sales Manager - Laboratory or call 800-826-8302.
