Bacteriological methods for the determination of protein quality were evaluated by comparison with protein efficiency ratio (P.E.R.) values determined by a standardized rat growth assay. Enzyme or acid hydrolyzates of foods were used as the source of amino acids with hydrolyzed whole egg powder as the reference standard. With Streptococcus faecalis A.T.C.C. 9790 autolysis occurred in media containing hydrolyzates of proteins deficient in lysine, and was largely responsible for results which did not agree with P.E.R. values. In methods employing Leuconostoc mesenteroides P-60 A.T.C.C. 8042, growth was influenced only by the most limiting amino acid relative to the requirements of the test organism.Results with enzyme hydrolyzates correlated poorly with P.E.R. values, whereas, with acid hydrolyzates, a good correlation was obtained for cereal proteins. A difference in amino acid requirements was largely responsible for the lack of agreement between the P.E.R. assay and methods employing L. mesenteroides, particularly for legumes and foods of animal origin. It was concluded that bacteriological assay methods which have been proposed for protein evaluation are unsatisfactory as screening procedures for the evaluation of protein in foods.