A new variables acceptance sampling plan for food safety

Variables sampling plans for microbial safety are usually based on the log transformation of the observed counts. We propose a new variables plan for lognormal data using the angular transformation. In a comparison with the classic approach, this new method shows more stringency and allows the use of smaller sample sizes to obtain the same level of consumer protection. This transformation is robust when the underlying distribution departs from the lognormal distribution as well as in the presence of contamination. A description of the new plan and the software codes are provided.