The present invention relates to a method capable of detecting proliferative bacteria in food and beverage, particularly acid or neutral beverage at low cost within a short time, a detection kit which enables simple measurement, and a technology for examination of harmful bacteria in food and beverage with respect to a method for rapid determination of proliferation properties of bacteria capable of producing guaiacol in food and beverage. There is disclosed a method for detecting bacteria capable of producing guaiacol, which comprises culturing or incubating a culture solution containing a specimen for a predetermined time in the presence of vanillic acid, and measuring the produced guaiacol by qualitative or quantitative analysis. Also there is disclosed a kit for detection of bacteria capable of producing guaiacol, comprising a container, and an acid or neutral culture medium containing a vanillic acid substrate for production of guaiacol, which is contained in the container and also sterilized and sealed. Furthermore there is disclosed a method for rapid determination of proliferation properties of bacteria capable of producing guaiacol in food and beverage, which comprises incubating a sporophyte of spore-forming bacteria capable of producing guaiacol for a predetermined time in the food and beverage in the presence of vanillic acid, and measuring the produced guaiacol by qualitative or quantitative analysis.