Sampling and testing of foods for the presence of pathogens is important to verify acceptable food safety levels.  Analytical testing methods often incorporate an enrichment procedure to resuscitate and amplify the target pathogen to higher concentrations allowing subsequent detection using classical or rapid molecular detection methods. These enrichments and detection methods are not perfectly selective and sensitive. This symposium focuses on quantitative and ecological aspects of this detection process and its relevance for food safety management by focusing on (1) the quantitative ecology of the target organism and background flora during non-selective and selective enrichment (2) advances in levels of detection, sensitivity and selectivity of different detection methods (broad range of classical and rapid methods). (3) the effects of sensitivity and selectivity on the performance of sampling plans. This symposium will address these issues with leading experts in the field, discussing classical and rapid detection methods, enrichment ecology, their performances and relevance for food safety management.

Presentations