AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS
Department of Food 
Science & Human Nutrition

Food Microbiology

Content

- The scope of Food Microbiology. Microorganisms and food materials
- Factors affecting the growth and survival of microorganisms in foods
- Hurdle concept – principles and applications
- Intrinsic factors affecting the growth of microorganisms in foods (pH, water activity, buffer capacity, redox potential)
- Extrinsic factors affecting the growth of microorganisms in foods (temperature, relative humidity, modified atmospheres)
- Natural antimicrobial systems
- Hurdles of microbial origin
- Hurdles of plant origin
- Conventional & rapid methods for microbial assessment / enumeration in foods
- Methods and techniques based on molecular tools and sensors
- Principles of Microbial ecology (habitat, niche and domain of microorganisms)
- The basic principles of microbiological food spoilage

Learning results

Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:

  • Understand the role and function of the intrinsic, extrinsic and implicit factors to control the growth/survival and death of microorganisms in the food environment
  • Understand the application of hurdle concept to control food spoilage and enhance food safety
  • Implement microbial enumeration and quantification on food products using conventional microbiological techniques
  • Integrate the acquired knowledge with other related scientific disciplines

Bibliography

• Nychas, G.J.E. Lectures in Food Microbiology, University notes
• Adams, M.R. and Moss, M.O. (2008) Food Microbiology, RSC Publishing, UK
• Jay, M.J. (2000) Modern Food Microbiology, 6th Edition, Aspen Publishers, USA

Relevant Scientific Journals
International Journal of Food Microbiology,Food Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal of Food Protection, Journal of Microbiological Methods

Faculty

2105294696
ptryf@aua.gr
Mrs Paschalitsa Tryfinopoulou, graduate of the Agricultural University of Athens, acquired a PhD in […]
2105294739
stathispanagou@aua.gr
Dr. Efstathios Z. Panagou is Professor of Quantitative Food Microbiology at the Agricultural University […]

NEWSLETTER

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (renamed Department of Food Science and Technology, Decree 80/27/5/13, Government Gazette A119 28/5/13) offers its students the scientific background for a rational approach to scientific and technological issues related to the food sector.
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