Colony counts

Colony counts are the numbers that come out of colony counting: the tally of cell colonies grown from a sample on solid medium, reported as colony-forming units. They are the lingua franca of food microbiology — total viable counts that judge hygiene, shelf life, and process control. A rising count through storage signals spoilage in progress; a count above specification triggers rejection or investigation. Interpreting them takes context: the organism, the food, and the method all shape what a number means, which is why specifications pair limits with defined procedures.