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Consumer Microbiology

 

Consumer Microbiology

The Consumer Microbiology Team of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) tests:

  • Drinking water

  • Food and shellfish

  • Milk and dairy products

Drinking Water
Tests drinking water for:

  • Public water systems (cities, etc.)

  • Individuals with private wells

 Photo of Consumer Microbiology Analysts testing bay water samples for the presence of Fecal Coliforms.

Food and Shellfish
Tests food and shellfish:

  • For regulatory purposes

  • To insure safe food for public consumption

  • In the case of a food-borne outbreak

Also participates in:

Milk and Dairy
Tests milk and dairy products:

  • As part of a national regulatory program

  • As the result of complaints: implicated product is submitted by the Milk Group

Regulatory Agencies
Drinking water is regulated by:

Food and shellfish testing, and Milk and Dairy testing are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For more information about these regulatory agencies, refer to the Consumer Microbiology Links page.

Note: External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.
 

Drinking Water

Regulation:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water FAQs:

 Photo of a Quality Control Analyst testing the lab's media, under a Biosafety Cabinet, using known reference strains.            

Food and Seafood

Food and shellfish regulation:

Food Consumer Advice:

 Photo of a Consumer Microbiology Analyst testing Texas bay water samples for the presence of Fecal Coliforms.

Milk and Dairy

Regulation: 

 Photo of a Consumer Microbiology Milk Analyst testing a milk sample for the presence of antibiotics.

Related DSHS Programs

Note: External links to other sites are intended to be informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to people with disabilities.

 

Laboratory Services

Laboratory Services

Microbiology Unit