Bacillus cereus Count: Microbiological Tests in Foods

In Which Products Can Bacillus cereus Mostly Be Found? What are the Hazards? How Can Contamination Be Prevented?

What is Bacillus cereus?

Bacillus cereus is a gram-positive, spore-forming, aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacterium. Naturally found in soil and some environments, this bacterium can grow especially in hot food. Bacillus cereus is a bacterium capable of producing enterotoxins, which can cause illness in humans. Bacillus cereus can cause two different diseases in food:

Bacillus cereus enterotoxin infection: The toxins can damage the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Bacillus cereus food poisoning: Once in the digestive tract, the bacteria quickly produce toxins and cause disease.

Risk of Bacillus cereus in Food

Bacillus cereus is particularly prone to growin cooked food products. This bacterium is highly resistant to temperature changes and can withstand high temperatures and low temperatures. The risk of Bacillus cereus threatening food safety increases when

1. Improper Cooking and Storage Conditions

Bacillus cereus can grow in improperly cooked, unrefrigerated or temperature-changed food. Bacteria can multiply rapidly in hot environments and when hot food is left for long periods of time.

2. Poor food hygiene

Lack of hygiene in food processing areas can lead to contamination with Bacillus cereus. Failure to follow hygiene rules in food preparation, cooking and storage can lead to the bacteria being transferred to food products.

3. Temperature changes

Bacillus cereus can also multiply if the cold chain is breached. Keeping food in the room for a long time after cooking or not refrigerating it can allow the bacteria to grow quickly.

Bacillus cereus Transmission Routes

Bacillus cereus is most often introduced into food in the following ways:

1. Soil and Environment

Bacillus cereus is found in nature in media such as soil, water and air. Contamination from soil can infect foodstuffs, especially vegetables or fruits. The bacteria can also be found in animal products.

2. Contamination in Food Processing Processes

If hygiene rules are not followed in food production, Bacillus cereus can be transferred to food products by contaminating non-bacterial materials. Cutting boards, knives, kitchen gloves and other equipment can be instrumental in spreading the bacteria.

3. Temperature and Storage Conditions

Bacillus cereus can grow when cooked food is left for a long time at the wrong temperature. Unrefrigerated meals create an ideal environment for the bacteria to multiply.

Nanolab Laboratories Group continues to provide services within the scope of Bacillus cereus enumeration. We also provide services for Clostridium perfringens enumeration.

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