Experimental protocols for modelling the response of microbial populations exposed to emerging technologies: some points of concern

ALZAMORA, STELLA MARIS; GUERRERO, S N; VIOLLAZ, P E; WELTI CHANES, J

Novel Food Processing Technologies

CRC Press

Lugar: Boca Raton - USA; Año: 2005; p. 591 - 607

Complex biological systems can only be progressively understood with the aid of mathematical. There is no question that predictive microbiology is one of the most useful approaches, not only in determining the microbiological impact of different steps associated with production, distribution, and retailing of a food, but in determining the optimum conditions of many processes. The benefits of microbial behavior modeling in Hazard Analysis and Control Critical Points (HACCP), risk assessment, and food safety systems include predicting shelf life, assessing the hygiene efficiency of processing and distribution, and establishing the likely effects of any deviations from normal manufacturing processes. However, assumptions and limitations of the performance of models must be understood; predictions are not absolute, but in many cases, the accuracy is sufficient to use these models as a tool in management decisions.