Review Book

General Comments about the Method Scope/Applicability:

Red page number (manuscript page number) 1.163(2)-Table 1-add sponge to Stainless steel surface, add swab to Polystyrene surface, add “Flavored” to Ranch seasoning. 2. 164(3)-add city, state to ATCC 3. 164(3)-how was the NFDM inoculated, and how mixed (manually?) 4.165(4)-Test Portion Analysis, 1st paragraph-“Out of 11 collaborators…” - probably should add “submitting data” or something, since there were actually 12 laboratories participating and abstract says “14 participants” 5. 167(6)-add “onion” to honey mustard seasoning 6. 167-168 (6-7)-please compare with IFU and match items/wording. For example, “sample boiling tubes” are (i)-Sample Tubes-12 mm external diameter and 75 mm height. 7. 168(7)-Letheen Broth and also could use HiCap Buffer 8. 169(8)-D(a)(a)-second (a) not necessary. Add “sample” to “To each 375 g, homogenize…” 9. 169(8)-D(a)(a)-add +/- 1 degrees 10. 170(9)-check (a)1. With IFU. IFU says 1-2 ml, here it says 1mL, add “to sample boiling tube”, “fatty matter” not in IFU. 11. 172(11)-please compare to IFU-some steps are left out before Stop Solution. 12. 172(11)-6)a. IFU says USDA/FSIS MLG 4.09, here it is 4.10 13. 173(12)-d (If no typical colonies are observed….”-check this with the IFU and the FDA procedure. 14. 175-176(14-15)-Discussion-there should be something about the use of DS2 and manual method. 15. 176(15)-Recommendations-add “onion” to honey mustard seasoning. 16. 177(16)-(4)-update OMA to 2019, 21st Ed. 17. 178(17)-Table 2-description of Collaborator 2 is not he same as in the text of the manuscript (voluntarily withdrew).

Pros/Strengths of the Manuscript:

International participants were used.

Cons/Weaknesses of the Manuscript:

N/A

Is the Validation Study Manuscript in a format acceptable to AOAC?

Yes

Is the method described in sufficient detail so that it is relatively easy to understand, including equations and procedures for calculation of results (are all terms explained)? Are the figures and tables sufficiently explanatory without the need to refer to the text?

Yes

Yes

Are all the figures and tables pertinent?

Yes