Bacteriological Quality Assessment of Market Milk Sold in Parbhani City, Maharashtra

Abstract

The research was carried out to evaluate the microbiological quality of local market milk sold by vendors in Parbhani city, Maharashtra. A total of hundred milk samples (from January to March 2015) were collected randomly from vendors of Parbhani city and analyzed for their microbial quality. Milk samples were processed for total plate count as well as for isolation of selected pathogens such as Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp, Clostridium spp and Salmonella spp. The mean value for total plate count was 6.61 ± 0.13x10⁵cfu/ml, with minimum 2.73 ±0.15 x10⁵cfu/ml and maximum 8.83 ±0.08 x10⁵cfu/ml count. Differential organisms E. coli, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Enterobacter spp was identified from 38 percent, 4 percent, 58 percent and 66 percent of the market samples, while Clostridium spp and Salmonella spp were not found in any of the market milk samples. The microbiological quality of milk was judged marginal and indicates the need for improved hygienic standards.