Use of Selective Media to Detect Enzyme Production by Microorganisms in Food Products

Abstract

Media are described for use in food analysis to detect fungi and bacteria able to excrete extracellular lipases, proteases, pectinases, amylases, and acids. Antibiotics were used to suppress bacterial growth in media that detect fungi. Food products were examined to show the ability of these media to detect contaminating microorganisms able to excrete these enzymes. The possibility that keeping quality of foods could be correlated with numbers of organisms able to excrete these degradative enzymes is discussed. The test media also could be used to obtain total counts of fungal and bacterial populations.