Predictive food microbiology (PFM) is an emerging multidisciplinary area of food microbiology. It encompasses such disciplines as mathematics, microbiology, engineering and chemistry to develop and apply mathematical models to predict the responses of microorganisms to specified environmental variables. This paper provides a critical review on the development of mathematical modelling with emphasis on modelling techniques, descriptions, classifications and their recent advances. It is concluded that the role and accuracy of predictive food microbiology will increase as understanding of the complex interactions between microorganisms and food becomes clearer. However the reliance of food microbiology on laboratory techniques and skilled personnel to determine process and food safety is still necessary.