Statistical Aspects of the Microbiological Examination of Foods

For many biologists, statistics are an anathema; but statistical analysis of quantitative and qualitative data is of considerable importance. Although spreadsheet software provides a diverse range of statistical tools, users are usually unsure which technique should be used. This book provides the basic statistical theory and practice to understand the types of tests frequently needed for the assessment of microbiological data. No prior knowledge of statistical techniques is required. Even when data can be given to a professional statistician for analysis, the microbiologist needs to have at least a general understanding of the underlying basis of statistical procedures in order to communicate effectively with the statistician. The book contains many worked examples to illustrate the use of the techniques and provides a plethora of references both to standard statistical works and to relevant original scientific papers on food microbiology.

Table of Contents:
IntroductionSome Basic Statistical ConceptsFrequency DistributionsThe distribution of microorganisms in foods in relation to samplingStatistical Aspects Of Sampling For Microbiological AnalysisErrors In The Preparation Of Laboratory Samples For AnalysisErrors Associated With Colony Count ProceduresErrors Associated With Quantal Response MethodsStatistical Considerations Of Other Methods In Quantitative MicrobiologyMeasurement Uncertainty in Microbiological AnalysisEstimation Of Measurement UncertaintyStatistical Process Control using Microbiological DataValidation of Microbiological MethodsStatistical aspects of microbiological criteria for foods in relation to Food Safety Objectives

About the Author :
Prof. Basil Jarvis has held various academic and senior industrial research positions throughout his career as a food microbiologist. His work has taken him to many countries outside the UK including the USA, Scandinavia and South Africa. He has published widely on food quality and safety, including inhibition of microbes in food systems, microbial toxins in foods, rapid microbiological methods, and statistical aspects of food microbiology. For almost 40 years he has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Reading and for 20 years was an Honorary Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Surrey, where he established a WHO-sponsored graduate course in Food Microbiology for medical and veterinary practitioners. He has served on numerous official advisory groups, including the statistics group of the AOAC Presidential Taskforce on ‘Best Practices in Microbiological Methods’. He is also a member of the ISO working group on Microbiological Statistics. He is a Past President and Honorary Member of the Society for Applied Microbiology, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and a Fellow of the Institute for Food Science and Technology. Although now retired, he retains his interests in teaching students and considers statistics to be a relaxing hobby, especially when accompanied by a glass of fine wine!