Control of product quality throughout repeated fermentations depends upon maintenance of genetic uniformity from the time of strain selection until the product is harvested. Genetic control, therefore, must be maintained for stock cultures, and during inoculum preparation and growth to produce the product. Theoretical and applied aspects of a procedure that will accomplish this control are discussed. A specific procedure adaptable to situations in which a ‘seed’ is repeatedly increased to produce a larger quantity of a final material is described. The procedure was tested by comparing the product of three bacterial species grown by a standard or usual vs. recommended or experimental procedure comparing product quality and uniformity. Use of the recommended procedure resulted in the high production of a uniform product based on the maintenance of the colony type of Bacillus anthracis, colony colour and type of Serratia marcescens, and uniformity and amount of toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum type A.