Exploring the microbial quality of milk and dairy products available in traditional markets: An investigation in Burdur province

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 3, 170 - 174, 31.12.2025

Zeki Erol , Zübeyde Polat , Ali Soyuçok , Halil Yalçın , Fulya Taşçı , Jerina Rugji

https://doi.org/10.31797/vetbio.1649550

https://izlik.org/JA32MJ55MF

Abstract

This study investigates the microbiological quality of various milk and dairy products by assessing total aerobic mesophilic counts, yeast and mold counts, and coliform counts. A total of 159 samples, including bovine milk (n=9), lor cheese (n=5), cream (n=3), butter (n=18), yogurt (n=33), white cheese (n=72), Tulum cheese (n=17) and kajmak (n=2) were aseptically collected and tested. The highest total aerobic mesophilic counts were found in lor cheese (6.81 log10 CFU/mL), followed by bovine milk (6.38 log10 CFU/mL), with yogurt and butter showing the lowest counts (both at 5.14 log10 CFU/mL). Coliform analysis revealed that lor cheese, kajmak, white cheese, and bovine milk had the highest counts, with values of 5.09, 4.98, 4.70, and 4.51 log10 CFU/mL, respectively, while Tulum cheese had the lowest coliform count (3.19 log10 CFU/mL). Yeast and mold counts were highest in bovine milk, Tulum cheese, lor cheese, and white cheese, with values of 4.87, 4.78, 4.76, and 4.35 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. In contrast, yogurt, cream, kajmak, and butter exhibited the lowest counts, with values of 2.32, 2.67, 3.08, and 3.67 log10 CFU/mL, respectively. The findings underscore the variability in microbiological quality across different dairy products and highlight potential risks to consumer health, particularly in products with higher microbial counts. These results emphasize the importance of monitoring microbiological parameters to ensure the safety and quality of dairy products. This is essential for reducing microbial contamination and improving the quality and safety of dairy products in the Burdur market.

Keywords

Burdur Province , microbiological quality , milk and dairy , open air markets.

Ethical Statement

Not applicable

Supporting Institution

Not applicable

Project Number

Not applicable

Thanks

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