Data and methods

This page documents the full methodology behind every result we publish: matrix evaluated, application method, storage conditions, microbiological parameters and ISO standards used, number of replicates, executing laboratory and evidence level. Results are always expressed on the matrix in which they were obtained and are not extrapolable between matrices.

For each trial — pork, chicken, maize, Listeria and allergens — we keep a record with the following fields:

The declared-limitations field isn't an act of modesty. It's the first thing a technical reviewer looks for, and its absence is the clearest signal that a data point isn't trustworthy.

Technical glossary

Commercial shelf life
The time a food remains within the microbiological and sensory limits that make it fit for sale and consumption, under specified storage conditions.
Mesophilic aerobic count
A microbiological indicator that quantifies the total aerobic bacteria capable of growing at moderate temperatures, used as a general measure of hygienic quality and spoilage.
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that visibly stops the growth of a microorganism under standardized test conditions.
Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that produces cell death of a microorganism, rather than merely stopping its growth.
Log reduction
A logarithmic (base 10) measure of how much a microbial population decreases — a 1-log reduction means a 90% decrease, a 3-log reduction means a 99.9% decrease.
Challenge test
A controlled trial in which a food is deliberately inoculated with a target microorganism to evaluate how a product or process affects its growth or survival over time.
Post-lethality intervention
A treatment applied to a ready-to-eat food after the process step that was meant to eliminate pathogens, aimed at controlling recontamination that may occur afterward.
Biofilm
A structured community of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced matrix, which makes them more resistant to cleaning and sanitizing than free-floating cells.
Environmental monitoring
A sampling program that tests plant surfaces, drains and equipment for pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, aimed at detecting persistent contamination sources rather than only testing the final product.