Microbiological food safety includes all activities associated with the identification and characterization of microbiological hazards (both pathogenic bacteria and viruses), as the development of analytical methodologies and sampling plans, and the adequate levels of self-control plans among food business operators.
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS, the National Institute of Health in Italy) develops and guarantees those activities through its national reference laboratories and centres.
The ISS also evaluates the microbiological risk in all food productive chain and guarantees determination by a third party in case of a controversy on compliance of food with legal requirements for microbiological criteria.
