Salmonella testing by enumeration

Bacteria of the genus Salmonella are among the main pathogens responsible for food poisoning. Their presence in food products or production environments constitutes a major health risk. Bacterial enumeration allows for the quantification of bacterial load and the assessment of product compliance with European and international regulations. This analysis is essential for controlling microbiological risks, protecting consumers, and ensuring the traceability of products.

Analytical methods for the enumeration of Salmonella

Salmonella enumeration relies on different reference methods:

• Enumeration on specific culture media with enrichment, isolation and biochemical confirmation of suspect colonies.
• PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which allows for rapid and targeted detection of Salmonella bacteria DNA, even at low concentrations.
• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is used to characterize microbial diversity and precisely identify the strains present.

These methods comply with ISO 6579 or equivalent standards, ensuring international comparability of results. They complement other food safety analyses such as Escherichia coli enumeration or Listeria monocytogenes detection .

Industrial and regulatory applications

Salmonella counting is essential in several sectors:

• Human food: meats, deli meats, fish, seafood, dairy products and eggs, where the presence of Salmonella is strictly controlled.
• Animal nutrition: controls on raw materials, flours and formulations intended for livestock farming.
• Nutraceuticals: verification of the microbiological quality of protein powders, plant extracts and food supplements.
• Environment and production areas: monitoring of hygiene of equipment, process water and manufacturing areas.

These controls are in line with European regulations which require the absence of Salmonella in certain foodstuffs, and are part of an HACCP and ISO 22000 approach.

Matrices analyzed for Salmonella

YesWeLab supports Salmonella analysis in a wide range of matrices: meats, fish, dairy products, plant extracts, nutritional powders, food supplements, drinking water, and production surfaces. Each matrix undergoes specific preparation to ensure reliable and representative results.

Security and compliance issues

Controlling the risk of Salmonella is essential for:

• Ensuring the safety of consumers and animals.
• Meeting strict regulatory requirements regarding food safety.
• Avoid batch recalls, financial losses and negative impact on brand image.
• Optimizing industrial processes through rigorous monitoring of microbiological hygiene.

These analyses are part of a comprehensive quality control system, alongside other microbiological tests such as yeast and mold counting or enterobacteria quantification .

YesWeLab's expertise in Salmonella testing

YesWeLab relies on a network of over 200 partner laboratories, the majority of which are ISO 17025 and COFRAC accredited, specializing in food and environmental microbiology. We direct your samples to the most suitable method and laboratory based on your matrices and objectives. Thanks to our digital platform, you benefit from a seamless and secure service: online quote requests, analysis tracking, and rapid results delivery. Since 2020, numerous manufacturers, distributors, and engineering firms have entrusted us with their samples to guarantee the conformity and safety of their products.

Take action

Do you want to test for the presence of Salmonella in your food products, nutraceuticals, or production environments? Entrust your samples to YesWeLab for precise testing that complies with current standards. Request a quote online today.