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Food Microbiology and Safety (FOOD20006)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Email: hbj@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
Microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and other agents) can be associated with food in several ways:
- As components of the fermentation processes that are associated with the development of flavours and textures of food and its preservation
- As the normal microflora that is associated with the origins of the food and persist during storage, possibly contributing to food spoilage
- As contaminants that enter food during processing or through subsequent mishandling, often posing public health risks
However, as foods must be safe and fit for human consumption, this subject aims to familiarise students with major food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms.
The content will cover:
- The kinetics of bacterial growth and the factors that may alter this (water activity, low pH, temperature, preservatives)
- The principles of modelling growth
- The principles of hazard and risk assessment in microbiological safety
- The role of microbes in food processing, including examples of specific fermentation processes and waste treatment
Practical exercises and case studies will be undertaken to provide an in-depth understanding of the regulatory framework of food safety
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the subject students should be able to:
- Describe concepts of normal flora and pathogenic microbes
- Understand how microbes interact and impact on food
- Understand the basics of identifying, classifying and enumerating microbes important in agri-food systems
- Use bright field light microscopy as a tool for identifying microbes
- Describe aseptic techniques for the transfer and handling enumerating and identifying microorganisms in food samples
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Enhanced skills in preparing reports based on practical experience
- Ability to analyse and integrate information from published and publicly available literature
- Teamwork capability for completion of case study tasks in a timely fashion
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
AGRI10050 | Agricultural Systems Biology | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10002 | Biomolecules and Cells | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
BIOL10008 | Introductory Biology: Life's Machinery |
Summer Term (Online)
Semester 1 (Online)
|
12.5 |
BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Semester 1 (Online) |
12.5 |
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
AND
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
AGRI10051 | Genetics for Agriculture | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10010 | Introductory Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10011 | Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
BIOL10003 Genes and Environment
BIOL10005 Genetics and The Evolution of Life
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
Students are expected to be familiar with word processing, data management and graphical software packages and to be competent in electronic search techniques. This subject requires attendance at lectures and active participation in practicals.
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assignment approximately due in week 9
| Week 9 | 25% |
Mid semester test
| Week 7 | 25% |
Examination
| During the examination period | 50% |
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Helen Billman- Jacobe Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 2 hours of lectures and 2 hours of practicals/workshops per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Email: hbj@unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 22 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Fundamental Food Microbiology by Bibek Ray and Arun Bhunia, 5th Edition, CRC Press.
Recommended texts and other resources
Food Microbiology by Martin R Adams and Maurice O Moss, 3rd Edition.
- Subject notes
This subject is available for science credit to students enrolled in the BSc.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Elective subjects for B-BMED Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 22 March 2024