Food Microbiology Testing

Check food, ingredients and production surfaces for the pathogens and hygiene indicators FSSAI’s microbiological standards set limits for.

4.9/5Rated by 28 clients

How Food Microbiology Testing works

1Assessment of requirement
2Sample collection
3Right lab assigned
4Testing
5Test report

Each step explained

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Overview of Food Microbiology Testing

Tested by: NABL-accredited partner lab
Regulation: FSSAI microbiological standards
Typical turnaround: 3–7 working days
Sample needed: 250–500 g, chilled

FSSAI’s microbiological standards set two kinds of criteria. Food safety criteria apply to pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria and decide whether a batch is safe to sell. Process hygiene criteria use indicators such as total plate count, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae to show whether the production process is under control.

Sampling plans specify how many units are tested and how many may fall between the limits, so a single unit is rarely enough for a compliance decision. Environmental swabs of equipment and surfaces, and tests on water and air, help find the source when results are high.

What we do for you

Lab and parameter list chosen for your purpose: licence, export, buyer or internal QC
Sampling guidance, and pickup or on-site sampling where needed
One contact who follows up with the lab until the report is issued
Report explained in plain language, with next steps if a result fails

What to send

The lab confirms the exact quantity and packing for your product when we book the test.

Sample

Quantity: 250–500 g, chilled
Sealed and labelled with the product name, batch number and date
Kept the way the product is normally stored: chilled, frozen or at room temperature

Details to share

Product name, FSSAI category and licence or registration number, if you have one
Ingredient list or recipe, and the label artwork
Purpose of testing: FSSAI licence, periodic testing, export, buyer or internal QC
For export: destination country and the buyer’s specification

How we handle Food Microbiology Testing

1
Assessment of requirement
We confirm the standard, the list of tests and how many samples your product needs.
2
Sample collection
We collect the samples from your factory or warehouse, or tell you exactly where to send them.
3
Right lab assigned
We choose an accredited lab (NABL, BIS-recognised or ILAC) that covers your standard and can start soonest.
4
Testing
The lab tests your samples against the standard. We follow up and tell you at once if a test fails.
5
Test report
You receive the signed test report, ready to use for BIS, WPC, CE or your buyer.

What the lab tests

Parameter	Why it is checked
Salmonella	Must be absent in specified quantities of many foods
Listeria monocytogenes	Ready-to-eat, dairy, meat and frozen foods
E. coli and coliforms	Indicators of faecal contamination and hygiene
Staphylococcus aureus	Foods handled by hand
Bacillus cereus	Rice, cereals, spices
Total plate count, yeast and mould	Overall hygiene and spoilage
Environmental swabs	Surfaces, equipment and hands

The final list depends on your product, its standard and the purpose of testing. We confirm it with you before the sample goes to the lab.

Frequently asked questions

How should samples be sent for microbiology?

In the original sealed pack where possible, chilled at 2–8 °C (or frozen for frozen foods), and reaching the lab within 24 hours. Opened or warm samples can give misleading counts.

Will FSSAI and buyers accept the report?

Tests are done in labs accredited by NABL for the parameters reported, and for regulatory use in FSSAI-notified labs, which is what FSSAI, food safety officers and most buyers expect. For export, we match the lab to the importing country’s or buyer’s requirement.

Who carries out the testing?

Instacertify’s partner laboratories, accredited by NABL to ISO/IEC 17025 for the parameters on your report. We choose the lab, arrange the sample, follow up until the report is issued and explain the results to you.

What our clients say

“Instacertify helped us get BIS CRS certification for our entire product range within just 6 weeks. Their team handled everything from documentation to lab coordination. Highly professional service.”

Akash GuptaBIS CRS · Electronics brand

“They handled complete certification for us, from ISO 9001 to BIS for PVC cables and plugs. Thorough, professional and always available — they knew what needed to be done and when.”

Shivank VishnoiISO 9001 & BIS · Cables

“Getting TEC approvals for our access-control products seemed confusing and complex, but Instacertify made it simple.”

Jiten ShahTEC approval · Access control

Not sure which certification you need?

Send us the product name and the countries you sell in. A specialist replies with the standards that apply, the documents to prepare, the lab cost and the timeline. The assessment is free.

The list of approvals comes to you in writing
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Testing, certification and registrations handled by one team

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