ISO 7889:2003

Yogurt - Enumeration of characteristic microorganisms - Colony-count technique at 37 degrees C

ISO 7889|IDF 117:2003 specifies a method for the enumeration of characteristic microorganisms in yogurt by means of the colony-count technique at 37 degrees Celsius. The method is applicable to yogurts in which both characteristic microorganisms (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) are present and viable.

Yaourt — Dénombrement des micro-organismes caractéristiques — Technique de comptage des colonies à 37 degrés C

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Jan-2003
• ICS: 07.100.30 - Food microbiology
• ICS: 67.100.99 - Other milk products
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 34/SC 5 - Milk and milk products
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 34/SC 5 - Milk and milk products
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Start Date: 14-Apr-2020
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: ISO 7889 - Yoghurt - Enumeration of characteristic microorganisms - Colony-count technique
• Effective Date: 08-May-2020

Overview

ISO 7889:2003 - Yogurt - Enumeration of characteristic microorganisms - Colony-count technique at 37 °C specifies a validated microbiological method to enumerate the two characteristic yogurt bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, using a colony‑count plating technique at 37 °C. The standard applies when both organisms are present and viable and defines media, incubation conditions, dilutions, counting, confirmation and calculation procedures to express results as colony‑forming units per gram.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and principle: Decimal dilutions of yogurt are plated and incubated on selective media; counts on plates at appropriate dilutions are used to calculate organisms per gram.
• Culture media: Acidified MRS for L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and complete M17 (with added lactose) for S. thermophilus. Media preparation and pH targets after sterilization are specified (acidified MRS pH 5.4 ± 0.1; M17 pH 6.8 ± 0.1).
• Incubation conditions:
  • Acidified MRS: anaerobic incubation at 37 °C ± 1 °C for 72 h (for L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus).
  • M17: aerobic incubation at 37 °C ± 1 °C for 48 h (for S. thermophilus).
• Sampling and dilutions: Follow ISO general rules for preparation of test samples and decimal dilutions; inoculate plates from appropriate dilutions to obtain countable colonies.
• Counting and confirmation: Colony morphology and confirmation tests are required to distinguish the two species; counts are converted to CFU/g using standard calculation procedures.
• Apparatus and quality: Specifies incubators (including anaerobic jars), pH‑meter accuracy, water baths, blenders/stomachers, and colony‑counting equipment. Prepared media storage (2–4 °C up to one week) and reagent quality are addressed.
• Precision and reporting: Includes guidance on repeatability, expression of results and required information in the test report.

Applications and users

ISO 7889:2003 is used by:

• Dairy and yogurt manufacturers for quality control of starter viability and product specifications.
• Microbiological testing laboratories and contract QC labs performing yogurt analysis.
• Regulatory authorities assessing compliance with compositional or labeling requirements related to live cultures.
• Research groups studying starter performance and shelf‑life of fermented dairy products.

Practical benefits include standardized colony‑count procedures, reproducible enumeration of L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, and confidence in inter‑laboratory comparisons.

Related standards

• ISO 6887‑1 - Preparation of test samples, initial suspension and decimal dilutions
• ISO 7218 - General rules for microbiological examinations
• ISO 8261 / IDF 122 - Guidance for preparation of test samples and dilutions for milk and milk products

Keywords: ISO 7889:2003, yogurt, enumeration, colony-count technique, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, MRS, M17, microbiological examination, 37 °C, CFU/g.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 7889
IDF
First edition
2003-02-01
Yogurt — Enumeration of characteristic
microorganisms — Colony-count
technique at 37 °C
Yaourt — Dénombrement des micro-organismes caractéristiques —
Technique de comptage des colonies à 37 °C

Reference numbers
IDF 117:2003(E)
©
ISO and IDF 2003
IDF 117:2003(E)
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ii © ISO and IDF 2003 – All rights reserved

IDF 117:2003(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Foreword. v
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Culture media, diluents and reagents. 2
6 Apparatus and glassware. 4
7 Sampling . 5
8 Preparation of test sample. 5
9 Procedure. 5
9.1 Preparation of test portion. 5
9.2 Microscopic examination . 6
9.3 Preparation of primary dilution . 6
9.4 Preparation of decimal dilutions . 6
9.5 Duration of the procedure. 6
9.6 Inoculation and incubation . 6
9.7 Counting of colonies . 6
9.8 Confirmation. 7
10 Calculation and expression of results . 7
10.1 Calculation. 7
10.2 Expression of results. 7
10.3 Examples of calculation . 8
11 Precision . 9
11.1 General. 9
11.2 Repeatability. 9
12 Test report. 9
Annex A (informative) Notes on procedure . 10
Bibliography . 11

IDF 117:2003(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has
been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 7889IDF 117 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34, Food products, Subcommittee SC 5,
Milk and milk products, and the International Dairy Federation (IDF), in collaboration with AOAC International.
It is being published jointly by ISO and IDF and separately by AOAC International.
iv © ISO and IDF 2003 – All rights reserved

IDF 117:2003(E)
Foreword
IDF (the International Dairy Federation) is a worldwide federation of the dairy sector with a National
Committee in every member country. Every National Committee has the right to be represented on the IDF
Standing Committees carrying out the technical work. IDF collaborates with ISO and AOAC International in
the development of standard methods of analysis and sampling for milk and milk products.
Draft International Standards adopted by the Action Teams and Standing Committees are circulated to the
National Committees for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 50 % of
the National Committees casting a vote.
ISO 7889IDF 117 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 34, Food products, Subcommittee SC 5,
Milk and milk products, and the International Dairy Federation (IDF), in collaboration with AOAC International.
It is being published jointly by ISO and IDF and separately by AOAC International.
All work was carried out by the Joint ISO/IDF/AOAC Action Team, Lactic acid bacteria and starters, of the
Standing Committee on Microbiological methods of analysis, under the aegis of its project leader, Prof. B.
Bianchi Salvadori (IT).
This edition cancels and replaces the first edition of IDF 117A:1988, which has been technically revised.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD
IDF 117:2003(E)
Yogurt — Enumeration of characteristic microorganisms —
Colony-count technique at 37 °C
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method for the enumeration of characteristic microorganisms in yogurt
by means of the colony-count technique at 37 °C.
The method is applicable to yogurts in which both characteristic microorganisms (Lactobacillus delbrueckii
subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) are present and viable.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 6887-1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Preparation of test samples, initial suspension
and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination — Part 1: General rules for the preparation of the initial
suspension and decimal dilutions
ISO 7218, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — General rules for microbiological examinations
ISO 8261IDF 122, Milk and milk products — General guidance for the preparation of test samples, initial
suspensions and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
characteristic microorganisms in yogurt
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus as detected under the conditions
specified in this International Standard
3.2
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus
thermophilic microorganism which forms lenticular, often sharp-shaped, colonies of diameter 1 mm to 3 mm
on acidified MRS medium under the conditions specified in this International Standard
NOTE Under a microscope, these microorganisms appear as rods, generally short, but sometimes in longer forms.
They are non-spore forming, Gram-positive, non-motile and catalase-negative.
3.3
Streptococcus thermophilus
thermophilic microorganism which forms lenticular colonies of diameter 1 mm to 2 mm on M17 medium under
the conditions specified in this International Standard
IDF 117:2003(E)
NOTE Under a microscope, these microorganisms appear as spherical or ovoid cells (of diameter 0,7 µm to 0,9 µm)
in pairs or in long chains. They are Gram-positive and catalase-negative.
4 Principle
4.1 Decimal dilutions of the test sample are inoculated into:
a) acidified MRS medium, followed by anaerobic incubation at 37 °C ± 1 °C for 72 h, for the count of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus;
b) complete medium (M17), followed by aerobic incubation at 37 °C ± 1 °C for 48 h, for the count of
Streptococcus thermophilus.
4.2 The colonies are counted and confirmed by means of appropriate tests.
4.3 The number of characteristic microorganisms per gram of sample is calculated from the number of
colonies obtained on plates at dilution levels so as to give a significant result.
5 Culture media, diluents and reagents
Use only reagents of recognized analytical grade, unless otherwise specified, and distilled or demineralized
water or water of equivalent purity. See also ISO 6887-1 and ISO 8261IDF 122.
5.1 Diluent
See ISO 6887-1 and ISO 8261IDF 122.
5.2 Culture media
Use freshly prepared culture media (MRS and M17) which shall not be exposed to direct sunlight.
If the prepared culture media are not used immediately, they shall, unless otherwise specified, be cooled and
stored at between 2 °C and 4 °C for no longer than 1 week and under conditions which do not produce any
change in their composition.
As for reagents, see storage conditions specified in ISO 7218.
5.2.1 Acidified MRS medium (see reference [7])
5.2.1.1 Composition
Peptone 1 (tryptic digest of casein) 10,0 g
Meat extract 10,0 g
Yeast extract (dried) 5,0 g
Glucose (C H O) 20,0 g
6 12 6
Tween 80 (sorbitan mono-oleate) 1,0 ml
Dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate (K HPO) 2,0 g
2 4
Sodium acetate trihydrate (CH CO Na·3HO) 5,0 g
3 2 2
Diammonium citrate [C H O (NH )] 2,0 g
6 6 7 4 2
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO ·7HO) 0,2 g
4 2
Manganese sulfate tetrahydrate (MnSO ·4HO) 0,05 g
4 2
1)
Agar 9,0 g to 18,0 g
Water up to 1 000 ml
1) Depending on the gel strength of the agar or according to manufacturer's instructions.
2 © ISO and IDF 2003 – All rights reserved

IDF 117:2003(E)
5.2.1.2 Preparation
Separately dissolve each component in a water bath (6.7) set at boiling. Cool in another water bath (6.7) to
50 °C. Adjust the pH so that after sterilization it is 5,4 ± 0,1 at 25 °C ± 1 °C by adding acetic acid (5.3.3) and
checking with the pH-meter (6.8). Transfer the medium in 100 ml portions into 150 ml bottles (6.10) or in
200 ml portions into 250 ml bottles (6.10). Sterilize for 15 min in an autoclave at 121 °C ± 1 °C.
NOTE 1 MRS medium is highly sensitive to heat treatment which may cause differences according to the autoclave
used.
NOTE 2 Comparative tests have shown that commercially available MRS media may give counts that are lower than
those given by the MRS medium prepared in accordance with this International Standard. Therefore, if used, the former
should be checked against the medium prepared according to this International Standard. This may cause problems for
yogurt producers and the authorities investigating the requested minimum cell count in yogurt products.
Before beginning the bacteriological examination, completely melt the required amount of medium in a water
bath (6.7) set at boiling, or by steaming in a partially closed container. Then cool it in another water bath (6.7).
5.2.2 M17 medium (see reference [8])
5.2.2.1 Basic medium
5.2.2.1.1 Composition
Peptone 1 (tryptic digest of casein) 2,5 g
Peptone 2 (peptic digest of meat) 2,5 g
Peptone 3 (papain digest of soya) 5,0 g
Yeast extract (dried) 2,5 g
Meat extract 5,0 g
β-Glycerophosphate (disodium salt) (C H O PNa) 19,0 g
3 7 6 2
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO ·7HO) 0,25 g
4 2
Ascorbic acid (C H O) 0,50 g
6 8 6
1)
Agar 9,0 g to 18,0 g
Water up to 950 ml
5.2.2.1.2 Preparation
Separately, dissolve each component in a water bath (6.7) set at boiling. Cool in another water bath (6.7) to
50 °C. Adjust the pH so that, after sterilization, it is 6,8 ± 0,1 at 25 °C ± 1 °C by using a reagent (5.3) and
checking with the pH-meter (6.8). Transfer the medium in 95 ml portions into 150 ml bottles (6.10). Sterilize for
15 min in an autoclave at 121 °C ± 1 °C.
5.2.2.2 Lactose solution
5.2.2.2.1 Composition
Lactose (C H O) 10,0 g
12 22 11
Water up to 100 ml
5.2.2.2.2 Preparation
Dissolve the lactose in the water. Dilute with water to 100 ml. Sterilize for 15 min in an autoclave at
121 °C ± 1 °C.
IDF 117:2003(E)
5.2.2.3 Complete medium (M17)
5.2.2.3.1 Composition
Basic medium (5.2.2.1) 95,0 ml
Lactose solution (5.2.2.2) 5,0 ml

5.2.2.3.2 Preparation
Immediately before use, melt the basic medium in a water bath (6.7) set at boiling. Cool in another water bath
(6.7) to 50 °C. Preheat the lactose solution in a water bath (6.7) set at 50 °C. Add the lactose solution to the
basic medium and mix by swirling. Cool the medium in the water bath to between 44 °C and 47 °C.
NOTE Complete M17 media are commercially available but, as in the case of commercially available MRS media,
the results obtained may differ significantly from one supplier to the other. Therefore they should be checked against M17
medium prepared according to this International Standard. This may cause problems for yogurt producers and the
authorities investigating the requested minimum bacterial count in yogurt products.
5.3 Reagents for pH adjustment
5.3.1 Sodium hydroxide solution, c(NaOH) = 0,1 mol/l approximately.
5.3.2 Dilute hydrochloric acid, c(HCl) = 0,1
...