Software and Data Bases: Use and Application

Abstract

Obtaining data for improving food safety management systems is often required to assist decision making in a short timeframe, potentially allowing decisions to be made and practices to be implemented in real time. Collection, storage, and retrieval of new data regarding microbial responses in foods gain insight on the achievement of food safety management measures (i.e., food safety objectives, performance objectives), avoiding the increase of fail-dangerous events. The role of data bases in predictive microbiology has been widely demonstrated as useful tools for the development of computing software or tertiary models, which allow users to estimate growth, survival, or inactivation of food-borne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in different food matrices. Additionally, the fast development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has increased the software tools available in predictive microbiology. These tools, named tertiary models, are created for a wide range of applications and types of users: scientists, food operators, risk managers, etc. Although early versions were designed as standalone systems, nowadays on-line software is a major trend making tools available everywhere to everyone through the Internet. In this chapter, descriptive examples of data bases and software tools used in predictive microbiology are explained.