Fecal Coliforms Test

Method Description

Fecal Coliforms Test: Fecal coliforms are a subset of total coliform bacteria — including organisms such as Escherichia coli — that originate from the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals and enter the food supply through contaminated water, soil, raw ingredients, or inadequate sanitation during processing. Testing for fecal coliforms is a widely applied indicator of sanitation quality and potential fecal contamination, serving as a benchmark in microbiological specifications for food products, dietary supplements, botanical raw materials, and cannabis and hemp ingredients under frameworks such as USP <2021>, AOAC methods, and state-level cannabis compliance programs. The method inoculates a measured sample portion onto selective media — such as m-FC agar or EC broth — and incubates at an elevated temperature of 44.5°C to selectively enumerate thermotolerant fecal coliforms, distinguishing them from non-fecal environmental coliforms and providing a quantitative result used to assess hygiene status and confirm compliance with applicable microbiological limits.