This publication presents research results obtained during the period 1998-2002 concerning the determination of human pathogen profiles in food by quality assured microbial assays. The work stems from an FAO/IAEA Consultants Meeting on Microbiological Contamination of Food held in Vienna in August 1997, with subsequent research coordinated through a Coordinated Research Project (CRP). The findings detailed herein were gathered and discussed across multiple meetings held in Vienna (1998), Betanian, Bogar, Indonesia (2000), and Mexico City, Mexico (2002), culminating in this comprehensive report.

The Authority Perspective: This publication compiles research findings from an international collaborative effort focused on food safety and microbial assays. It documents the progression of scientific inquiry into pathogen detection methods over a four-year period, reflecting the outcomes of multiple expert meetings. The work serves as a record of scientific advancements and collaborative research in the field of food microbiology.