Draft of Sanitation Standard for Microbiological in 
Foods  
 
Article 1    
This Standard is prescribed in accordance with the provisions of 
Article 17 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.  
 
Article 2    
The scopes of this standard include  food microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites , not include fungi and mycotoxins . 
 
Article 3    
The limits for food microorganisms and their toxins or metabolites  
shall  meet the requirement s in the table on Annex . 
 
Article 4    
This Standard shall be implemented from January 1, 20 20.  
Annex  
Note.  
1. The meaning of the symbol in the "sampling plan ” and “ Limits ”: 
“n” means  number of units comprising the sample . 
“c” means  number of sample unit s giving values between m and M . 
“m” means a  microbiological limit that acceptable quality . 
“M” means a  microbiological limit above which sampling results are unacceptable . 
2. The detected results allowable between m and M from ≦ c sample quantity. Unacceptable  ≧ M for 
any sample.  
3. If "m=M", means u nacceptable  ≧ m or M for any sample.  
   
Table1. Milk and dairy products  
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
1.1 Milk, flavored milk and milk drink  
1.2 Milk powder, flavored milk powder 
and whey powder as raw material 
for food processing.  
1.3 Fermented milk  
1.4 Condensed milk, except of canned 
condensed milk  listed in 1.6  Enterobacteriaceae  5 0 10 CFU /mL(g)  
Salmonella   5 0 Negative  
Listeria monocytogenes  5 0 Negative  
Staphylococcal enterotoxins  5 0 Negative  
1.5 Cheese , butter and c ream  1Escherichia coli  5 2 10 
MPN/g(m L) 100 
MPN/g(m L) 
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
Listeria monocytogenes  5 0 Negative  
Staphylococcal enterotoxins  5 0 Negative  
1.6 Canned food2: Sterilized milk, 
sterilized flavored milk, sterilized 
milk drink and condensed milk  - 5 0 Passes inspection by 
incubation test (37 ℃ for 
10 days): Shall not growth 
of microorganisms cause 
of swelling, transform or 
pH value abnormal.   
1The test item  of Escherichia coli  here, not applicable cheese .  
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
2Canned food here refers to those canned food meet the commercial sterility requirements in Re gulations on Good Hyg iene 
Practice for Foods . 
 
   
Table2. Infant foods1 
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
2.1 Infant formula  
2.2 Follow -up infant formula  
2.3 Infant formula for special medical 
purposes  
 Enterobacteriaceae  10 0 10 CFU /g(mL) 
Salmonella  10 0 Negative  
Listeria monocytogenes  10 0 Negative  
2Cronobacter  spp. ; Enterobacter 
sakazakii  10 0 Negative  
2.4 Other infant  food3, except list in 2.5  Coliform  5 2 <3 
MPN/g(m L) 10 
MPN/g(m L) 
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
Listeria monocytogenes  5 0 Negative  
2.5 Canned food4: Other ready -to-eat 
canned infant foods. F or example, 
the ready -to-feed liquid infant 
formula , meat puree , fruit puree , 
vegetable puree . - 5 0 Passes inspection by 
incubation test (37 ℃ for 
10 days): Shall not growth 
of microorganisms cause 
of swelling, transform or 
pH value abnormal.   
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
1 Infant  food referred to in this table means the food sold exclusively for infants less than  12 months of age . 
2 The test item  of Cronobacter  spp. (Enter obacter sakazakii ) here, just applicable food sold exclusively for infants less than 
6 months of age.  
3 Other i nfant foods mean other foods sold exclusively for infants less than 12 months of age, include cereal -based foods, 
milk-based drinks and similar products.  
4 Canned food here refers to those canned food meet the commercial sterility requirements in Re gulations on Good Hyg iene 
Practice for Foods . 
 
 
   
Table3. Raw ready -to-eat food s1 and ready -to-eat food s contain both raw and processed food 
ingredient at once2 
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
3.1 Raw ready -to-eat aquatic products  
3.2 Ready -to-eat foods contain both raw 
aquatic products  and processed food 
ingredient at once  Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
Vibrio parahaemolyticus  5 0 100 MPN /g 
3.3 Fresh /raw ready -to-eat fruit and 
vegetables  
3.4 Ready -to-eat foods contain both  
fresh/raw fruit or vegetables and 
processed food ingredient at once  Escherichia coli  5 0 10 MPN/g  
3Escherichia coli O157 :H7 5 0 Negative  
Salmonella   5 0 Negative  
3.5 Ready -to-eat not fully cooked eggs, 
and ready -to-eat foods that contain 
not fully cooked eggs  Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
1 Ready -to-eat food means food intended by the producer or the  manufacturer for direct human consumption without the 
need for cooking or  other processing effective to eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the  microorganisms of concern.  
2 Ready -to-eat foods contain raw aquatic produ cts, fresh/raw fruit and vegetables, and eggs not fully cooked, must merge all 
related inspection items.  
3 Escherichia coli  test results  if negative , do not need to test Escherichia coli  O157:H7.  
   
Table4. Packaged /containerized drinking water and beverage  
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
4.1 Packaged drinking water and 
containerized drinking water  Coliform  5 0 Negative  
Fecal Streptococci  5 0 Negative  
Pseudomonas aeruginosa  5 0 Negative  
4.2 Carbonated beverages, for example, 
the soft drinks, cola and other sugary 
carbonated beverages   Enterobacteriaceae  5 0 Negative  
4.3 Reconstituted fruit and vegetable 
juices, fruit and vegetable juice 
drinks, puree1 and other similar , 
except listed in 4.7, 4.8 
4.4 Beverages containing coffee, cocoa, 
tea or cereals, legumes and other 
food materials, except listed in 4.7, 
4.8 Enterobacteriaceae  5 0 Negative  
4.5 Unpasteurized  fresh fruit and 
vegetable juices. Un pasteurized  fresh 
fruit and vegetable juices containing 
milk less than 50%  Escherichia coli  5 0 10 MPN/ mL 
2Escherichia coli O157 :H7 5 0 Negative  
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
4.6 Fermented fruit and vegetable juice , 
flavored  acidic beverages containing 
lactic acid  or fermentation broth  
(contain active probiotics ) , except Enterobacteriac eae 5 0 Negative   
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
listed in 4.7 
4.7 Beverages that is made on the spot , 
unpasteurized, and the shelf -life less 
than 24 hours, except listed in 4.5 Enterobacteriaceae  5 2 10 CFU /mL 100 CFU /mL 
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
4.8 Canned foods3: Canned beverages  
- 5 0 Passes inspection by 
incubation test (37 ℃ for 10 
days): Shall not growth of 
micro -organisms cause of 
swelling, transform or pH 
value abnormal.  
1 Fruit juice syrup  (which contain reconstituted fruit juices or natural fruit juices above 50 %, sugary  and t otal soluble solids  
above 50°Brix , m ust be diluted drink ) not applicable . 
2 Escherichia coli  test results  if negative , do not need to test Escherichia coli  O157:H7.  
3 Canned food here refers to those canned food meet the commercial sterility requirements in Re gulations on Good Hygiene 
Practice for Foods.  
 
   
Table 5. Frozen foods and ice products  
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
5.1 Ice cubes, food grade  
5.2 Frozen ready -to-eat food s1,include:   
    -Ice products  include ice cream, 
gelato, popsicle, shaved ice, 
sundae, sorbet, smoothie etc.   
    -Frozen fruits  
5.3 Frozen cooked2 foods, may provide 
ready -to-eat after thawing or re-heat,  
except listed in 5.6, include:  
-Frozen cooked vegetables  
 Enterobacteriaceae  5 2 10 CFU /g(mL)  
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
5.4 Frozen non ready -to-eat foods  
-Frozen food that m ust be cooked2 
before  provide .  
-Frozen raw aquatic products that not 
provide ready -to-eat. Escherichia coli  5 0 50 MPN/ g 
5.5 Frozen raw aquatic products that 
provide ready -to-eat. 
 Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
Vibrio parahaemolyticus  5 0 100 MPN /g 
5.6 Frozen cooke d2 aquatic  products , 
may provide ready -to-eat after Vibrio parahaemolyticus  5 0 Negative   
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
thawing or re-heat. 
1 Ready -to-eat food means food intended by the producer or the manufacturer for direct human consumption without the need 
for cooking or other processing effective to eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the microorganisms of concern.  
2 Cooked means heat -treated food thoroughly to make sure foods keep the minimum internal temperature above 75 ℃ and may 
provide ready -to eat.  
 
   
Table6. Other ready -to-eat foods  
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
6.1 Foods that can eat after rehydration 
list other than table1 to 5.  
6.2 Ready -to-eat foods that stored at hot 
holding or room temperature  list 
other than table1 to 5.  
6.3 Ready -to-eat f oods that stored at 
refrigeration  or below room 
temperature list other than table 1 to 
5, include:  
-Ready -to-eat foods that stored at 
refrigeration or below room 
temperature, can re -heat before eat.  
For example, 18 ℃ delicatessen.  
-dessert , sauces etc.  Staphylococcus aureus  5 1 100 
CFU /g(mL)  1000  
CFU  /g(mL)  
Salmonella  5 0 Negative  
1Listeria monocytogenes  5 0 100 CFU  /g(mL)  
6.4 Canned foods2 list other than table1 
to 5. 
- 5 0 Passes inspection by 
incubation test (37 ℃ for 10 
days): Shall not growth of 
micro -organisms cause of 
swelling, transform or pH 
value abnormal.   
Food category  Microorganisms and their 
toxins or metabolites  Sampling plan  Limits  
n c m M 
1 The test item of  Listeria monocytogenes  is not applied  the sugar, honey, confectionery (including cocoa and chocolate 
products ) and food grade salt.  
2 Canned food here refers to those canned food meet the commercial sterility requirements in Re gulations on Good Hygiene 
Practice for Foods.