The desirability, indeed the necessity, for standardization of methods for the examination of foods for contaminant and spoilage mycoflora has been apparent for some time. The concept of a specialist workshop to address this problem was borne during conversations at the Gordon Research Conference on "Hicrobiological Safety of Foods" in Plymouth, New Hampshire, in July 1982. Discussions at that time resulted in an Organizing Committee of four, who became the Editors, and a unique format: all attendees would be expected to contribute and, in most cases, more than once; and papers in nearly all...