ISO 6579-1:2017

Overview

ISO 6579-1:2017 - Microbiology of the food chain - Horizontal method for the detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella - Part 1: Detection of Salmonella spp. - specifies a harmonized laboratory method for detecting Salmonella spp. in food, animal feed, environmental samples from food production/handling areas, and primary‑production samples (e.g., animal faeces, dust, swabs). The standard defines a four‑stage workflow (pre‑enrichment, selective enrichment, plating on selective media, and confirmation) and includes annexes with diagrams, culture media, validation data and special procedures (e.g., Salmonella Typhi/Paratyphi).

Key technical topics and requirements

• Four successive stages for Salmonella detection:
  • Pre‑enrichment in non‑selective liquid medium (e.g., buffered peptone water); incubation temperature range 34 °C to 38 °C and typical incubation time (example provided: 18 h).
  • Selective enrichment using media such as Rappaport‑Vassiliadis (RVS) broth or modified semi‑solid Rappaport‑Vassiliadis (MSRV) agar.
  • Plating out on selective solid media to obtain isolated suspect colonies.
  • Confirmation by biochemical and serological tests to confirm Salmonella spp.
• MSRV limitation: MSRV is intended for the detection of motile Salmonella and is not appropriate for non‑motile strains.
• Special cases: Detection procedures for Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi are provided in Annex D.
• Laboratory practice and safety: Tests must be performed in properly equipped microbiology laboratories by competent personnel; safe disposal of cultured material is emphasized.
• Method performance and validation: Annexes include culture media specifications, performance characteristics, diagrams of procedures and guidance on serotyping.

Practical applications

• Routine food safety testing in production and processing facilities (meat, poultry, dairy, produce, ready‑to‑eat).
• Environmental monitoring programs for sanitation verification in food plants.
• Primary production testing (animal faeces, farm environmental swabs) to inform on‑farm controls.
• Regulatory compliance and official control testing by public health and food safety authorities.
• Quality control for animal feed manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.

Who should use this standard

• Microbiology laboratories performing Salmonella detection.
• Food and feed industry quality assurance teams.
• Public health laboratories, regulatory agencies, and contract testing labs.
• Researchers validating detection workflows compatible with international practice.

Related standards

• ISO/TS 6579‑2 - Enumeration of Salmonella spp.
• ISO/TR 6579‑3 - Guidance on serotyping to serovar level.
• ISO 6887 (sample preparation), ISO 7218 (general microbiology requirements) and ISO 11133 (culture media quality) are normative references linked to ISO 6579‑1:2017.

Keywords: ISO 6579-1:2017, Salmonella detection, food safety testing, MSRV, Rappaport‑Vassiliadis, microbiology of the food chain, pre‑enrichment, selective enrichment, serotyping.