Micro December 2018

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS  OMAMAN‐46: Enumeration of E. coli and Coliform

ER 3 1.  page 2, lines 12, 13, 16‐please add more description to:  sprouts (type), cranberries (cooked or  raw?), flour (type), spinach (cooked or raw?), ready‐to‐eat sandwiches (brief description of  components), dressing (type?) 2.  page 3, lines 8‐9‐how was the bulk lot and medium and low level lots mixed? 3.  page 3‐line 26‐what happens with the data re temperature probe?  Were all received correctly? 4.  page 3, line 38‐spell out BPBD, first time used 5.  page 3, lines 42‐43‐please describe the colonies which were enumerated 6.  page 3, line 43‐were colonies further confirmed to coliform and E. coli? 7.  page 4, line 20 and 21‐ were colonies further confirmed to coliform and E. coli? 8.  page 4, lines 41‐42‐Figures 1‐5 should be called out here (they are not described elsewhere in  manuscript) 9.  page 5, lines 8‐13‐ please add more description to:  lamp chop (raw or cooked?), sprouts (type),  cranberries (cooked or raw?), flour (type), spinach (cooked or raw?), ready‐to‐eat sandwiches (brief  description of components), dressing (type?) 10.  page 5, line 18‐there are 5 tables instead of 4  11.  page 5, line 38 and 40‐these catalog numbers are not in the IFU. 12.  page 5, line 48‐usual temperature for refrigerator is 2‐8oC 13.  page 6, line 8‐spell out RH 14.  page 7, line 26‐when are the plates incubated at these various temperatures?  Maybe a table is  warranted? 15.  page 8, line 10‐results‐were all colonies confirmed for the 3M method?  It was not clear in the  description earlier. 16.  page 10, line 20‐spell out Dept. 17.  page 10, line 22‐spell out Lab 18.  IFU‐Sampling‐the IFU does not say what volume/weight of sample to use for method, nor  references where to find this information. 19.  IFU‐Sampling‐the IFU does not say which diluent to use with the various matrices, nor  references where to find this information. 10 IFU Incubation the IFU does not say which temperature to use to incubate the plates for the ER 4 Wide range of matrices evaluated ER 5 It is a rapid and easy method to perform. ER 6 The method has broad applicability ER 7 Scope (comparison with BAM method and ISO method at 2 temperatures) and matrix applicability  broad. ER 8 The applicability seems correct. ER 9 Well defined Pros/Strengths of the Manuscript: ER 1 Well written. ER 2 Well written ER 3 Very easy to use product inoculation steps. ER 4 Well written and easy to follow

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