A Selective Medium for Bacillus Cereus in Milk

SUMMARY: A medium is described by means of which cells of Bacillus cereus in milk may be estimated without the prior use of a heat treatment. Into a nutrient agar are incorporated: egg yolk, to demonstrate production of the characteristic opacity; citrate, to render the inoculated medium more transparent; lithium chloride and polymyxin, to reduce the growth of other bacteria. A cover of water agar limits the development of certain spreading organisms. The medium has proved of value in a survey of samples of raw milk, providing information additional to that obtained by plating after a heat treatment.