Assume that a heterotrophic plate count indicates that substantial numbers of microbes are present in a food sample. What should be done next to determine whether the food sample is a danger to the consumer? Food and Drug Administration guidelines state that pasteurized milk is allowed 20, 000 CFU/ml. How many colonies would be present if 1 ml of 10^-2 dilution was plated? __________ Is 20, 000 CFU/ml a health hazard? __________________ CLINICAL APPLICATIONS An outbreak of botulism associated with home-canned chili peppers killed 16 members of one family. Would a heterotrophic plate count have detected the etiologic agent in the canned chili peppers? Briefly explain. An outbreak of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli has occurred. The source of the epidemic is thought to be alfalfa sprouts. A heterotrophic plate count of the sprouts indicates low levels of bacteria. Can you assume that the sprouts are not the source of the plate outbreak?