A Working Party on Quality Assurance and Quality Monitoring of Microbiological Culture Media (WPCM) was initiated and approved by the plenary session during the International Microbiology Congress in Munich in 1978. Terms of reference were to elaborate a ’Pharmacopoeia of Culture Media’, including recommendations for media for specific purposes, as a result of consensus meetings of a limited group of experts.
Recommendations were to be updated periodically. A number of successful meetings were organised (amongst others) in Calla de Mallorca, Dallas/Texas, London, Manchester, Pécs, Heidelberg, Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana, Bologna and, most recently (2008), in Bath. The scope of activities has been gradually widened.
Documents published include a ‘Pharmacopoeia’ in two special issues of the International Journal of Food Microbiology, and a book ’Culture Media for Food Microbiology‘ (eds. Corry, Curtis and Baird, Vol. 34 in the series ‘Progress in Industrial Microbiology, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1995). The second edition was published by Elsevier in 2003 as Progress in Industrial Microbiology Vol. 37, and a third edition, expanded to include media for Water Bacteriology, is to be published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2011.
For more information, please contact: Gordon Curtis (Convenor, ICFMH-WPCM), gdwcurtis@tiscali.co.uk
On June 7, 2025, the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH) proudly joins the global community in celebrating World Food Safety Day, under the theme "Food Safety: Science in Action."
At ICFMH, we believe that scientific research, international collaboration, and knowledge dissemination are the pillars of food safety. From detection of pathogens to global risk management, science is the driving force behind every safe bite of food. Through our conferences, training, and our partnership with Elsevier in publishing the International Journal of Food Microbiology, we continuously strive to promote evidence-based approaches to food safety around the world.
To mark this year’s WFSD, we are pleased to announce the launch of the official ICFMH YouTube channel, where we will share scientific insights, expert interviews, and community highlights — starting with a special WFSD 2025 video series featuring food safety leaders and researchers.
Visit and subscribe to the channel here:
YouTube.com/@ICFMH
Let’s continue to turn science into action — for safer food, healthier communities, and a better future for all.
Prof. dr. Andreja Rajkovic, ICFMH president