LETHEEN BROTH, MODIFIED (as per FDA) *

In the early 40s, Weber and Black recommended the use of lecithin and polysorbates to neutralize the antimicrobial action of the quaternary ammonium compounds. In 1965, the methodology was accepted by AOAC for the antimicrobial assays and extended their use to all the cationic detergents. In 1978, the FDA incorporated it as pre-enrichment medium for every microbial examination of cosmetics.
Letheen Broth, Modified is prepared as per FDA for screening cosmetic products for microbial contamination. There are great chances of altering the chemical composition of cosmetics by the metabolism of organism s thereby spoiling and causing harm to the users. Direct colony counts and enrichment culturing are the methods of choice for isolating microorganisms from cosmetic products. The word Letheen represents a combination of lecithin and polysorbate (tween) 80.

for screening cosmetic products to check microbial contamination