The official standard for environmental surface testing in food facilities is (formally titled "Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal methods for surface sampling" ). This updated version replaced the older 2004 edition, which carried the name "Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs" .
The international standard ISO 18593:2018 , titled "Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal methods for surface sampling," establishes a uniform framework for detecting and enumerating culturable microorganisms on surfaces within food industry environments. By providing standardized sampling techniques, it enables food business operators to identify potential contamination sources and verify the effectiveness of their hygiene protocols. Scope and Application The official standard for environmental surface testing in
Unlike vertical standards that focus on testing the food itself (e.g., a sample of minced meat), ISO 18593 focuses on the environment . It standardizes how to physically transfer microorganisms from a solid surface (stainless steel, plastic, rubber) onto a culture medium or into a diluent for further analysis. By providing standardized sampling techniques