Includes 348 articles, each approximately 4,000 words in length.

Distinguished group of authors from around the world, representing 36 different countries.

Articles cover the following areas of Food Microbiology:
    -- Food-Borne Organisms: their characteristics and importance
    -- Micro-Organisms in Action
    -- Detection and Enumeration

The articles describe:
    -- all the major genera / groups of food spoilage and food-borne disease organisms
    -- the beneficial activities of bacteria and fungi in the food industry
    -- the industrial aspects of microbiology
    -- the microbiology of specific commodities
    -- classical methods for the enumeration of bacteria and fungi
    -- total colony counts for the detection and / or enumeration of specific genera/species
    -- MPN procedures, Dye reduction tests and direct microscopic counts
    -- more recent methods for examining foods e.g. DEFT
    -- current tests for individual genera such as API carbohydrate strips

To locate articles, users can refer to an alphabetical article listing, or to a listing arranged according to subject area.

Further reading list at the end of each article allows easy access to the primary literature.

Extensive cross-referencing throughout.

Complete subject index in each volume.

Many figures and tables illustrating the text.

Colour plate section in each volume.

Entries arranged in a single A-Z list for easy access.

Includes initial access to the online version with advanced search features, concurrent availability for all IP-registered members at an insitution, and permission to print out and copy materials for internal use.