21 CFR § 112.55 - What microbial standards apply to the treatment processes in § 112.54?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s112.55"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 112.55 - What microbial standards apply to the treatment processes in § 112.54?"
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "112.55"
section_name: "What microbial standards apply to the treatment processes in § 112.54?"
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
part_number: "112"
part_name: "STANDARDS FOR THE GROWING, HARVESTING, PACKING, AND HOLDING OF PRODUCE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 342, 350h, 371; 42 U.S.C. 243, 264, 271."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 74547, Nov. 27, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "112"
---


# 112.55 What microbial standards apply to the treatment processes in § 112.54?

The following microbial standards apply to the treatment processes in § 112.54 as set forth in that section.

(a) For *L. monocytogenes,* *Salmonella* species, and *E. coli* O157:H7, the relevant standards in the table in this paragraph (a); or

| For the microorganism— | The microbial standard is— |
| --- | --- |
| (1) | Not detected using a method that can detect one colony forming unit (CFU) per 5 gram (or milliliter, if liquid is being sampled) analytical portion. |
| (2)  species | Not detected using a method that can detect three most probable numbers (MPN) per 4 grams (or milliliter, if liquid is being sampled) of total solids. |
| (3)  O157:H7 | Not detected using a method that can detect 0.3 MPN per 1 gram (or milliliter, if liquid is being sampled) analytical portion. |

(b) *Salmonella* species are not detected using a method that can detect three MPN *Salmonella* species per 4 grams (or milliliter, if liquid is being sampled) of total solids; and less than 1,000 MPN fecal coliforms per gram (or milliliter, if liquid is being sampled) of total solids.

[80 FR 74547, Nov. 27, 2015, as amended at 81 FR 26468, May 3, 2016]