Microbiological limits are part of the spec, not a footnote
A botanical extract specification is incomplete without its microbiological panel. The core tests most buyers screen are total plate count (TPC), yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella, with broader pathogen screens added for sensitive formats. These numbers describe the hygiene of the process and the safety margin of the finished product, not a marketing claim. HerbalSourcing states its role as a supplier and exporter of botanical extracts and documents the microbial panel per product on the batch COA.
What each test tells you about the material
Total plate count (TPC) indicates overall microbial load and processing hygiene; yeast and mold signal storage and preservative risk, especially in water-activity or beverage systems; E. coli and Salmonella are pathogen safety screens that most markets treat as absence-required. Limits stated as not detected are method- and sample-size-dependent, so the acceptance criterion and the test method should be read together. In our catalog, natural borneol is specified with a microbiology limit of total count <= 100 CFU/g, while osmanthus carries total plate count <= 1000 CFU/g and yeast & mold <= 100 CFU/g — different products carry different, documented limits.
Read microbiology on the COA, not just the headline assay
Beyond the active marker assay, a usable COA states the microbial panel, the method and the lot result. Mushroom and ginseng lines such as reishi, lion's mane, cordyceps and ginseng are specified with a panel of total count, yeast / mold, E. coli and Salmonella, and lycopene carries the same core panel. Confirm that the values on the COA match the limit written into your specification sheet, and ask whether each limit is tested per batch or by specification.
Why limits differ by form, matrix and market
Microbial risk is tied to the finished format. Ready-to-drink and powdered beverage systems, and encapsulation lines, need tighter, documented limits than a dry bulk intermediate held sealed. Nattokinase, for example, is qualified with a microbial limit that holds through encapsulation, plus an allergen (soy) statement and GMO status. Oil forms such as lycopene are specified by peroxide and acid value rather than water-activity microbiology, but still carry a pathogen screen. Request the limit that matches your actual process and destination market.
Put the microbial panel in the RFQ
A complete RFQ states the intended use, the target market, the form, the preservative or encapsulation system, and the microbial acceptance limits you require (TPC, yeast/mold, E. coli, Salmonella, and any extra pathogens). This lets the supplier confirm the right grade and documentation instead of shipping a generic bag that fails your release testing. HerbalSourcing reviews the microbial panel and the supporting documents during RFQ so the material matches your specification before scale-up.