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Aims: To reduce the analysis time needed for the enumeration of Escherichia coli, a rapid fluorogenic method (MUG) which takes only 48 h was compared with the standard most probable number (MPN) method which takes 6 days as described in the International Standards Organization (ISO). This study provides reliability data for the fluorogenic method applied to certain foods. Methods and Results: Both methods were applied to 500 food samples which were analysed for E. coli enumeration. Agreement between the two methods was found in 409 (81AE8%) samples; 81 (16AE2%) samples gave higher values by the fluorogenic method, and only 10 (2AE0%) samples were more effectively assayed by the ISO method. According to statistical analysis, the reliability between the methods was r ¼ 0AE9706, r 2 ¼ 0AE9421 and Cronbach's a ¼ 0AE9851. While all three values showed a high degree of correlation (P < 0AE0001) between the two methods, McNemar's test demonstrated a significant difference between them, indicating that the MUG method was more reliable than the ISO method. Conclusions: The data suggest that the fluorogenic method is more reliable and shorter to perform than the standard ISO method. Significance and Impact of the Study: Comparison of the two methods may provide a rapid and more reliable alternative for the enumeration of E. coli in food samples.

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