Study of Microbial Contaminants in White Cheese in Basra Markets, Iraq

Abstract

This study was conducted to detect and identify the types of microbial contaminants in the homemade soft white cheese in Basra city markets and from different regions to assess their validity and their compliance with the approved Iraqi health standards. Fifty samples of soft white cheese samples were collected from the local markets of the city of Basra, represented by the regions (Al-Ashar, Old Basra, Abi Al-Khateeb, Al-Qarma, and five miles) during the period from February 2020 to April 2020 by using 250 g for each sample of soft white cheese. total bacterial count and the total coliform count was investigated, as well as the Staphylococcus aureus preparation and the presence of Pseudomonas spp was also investigate compared with specific control rates, biochemical identification was done by using the Enterosystem18R system. The results of the current study showed the high content of soft white cheese from the microorganisms that included many pathogens in humans and food poisoning. Total bacterial count ranges from 5.6 x 10⁵  to 6.8 x 10⁹ cfu /g, coliform bacteria ranged from 4.6 x 10⁴ to 9.99 x10⁷ cfu/g and it was found that the bacterial count of E. coli was between 2.1 x 10 ² to 3.9 x 10⁹ cfu/g,. Pseudomonas spp. was found between 2.4 x 10⁴ to 3.1 x 10⁷ cfu/g and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was 1.8 x 10⁷ to 5.3 x 10⁷ cfu/g .It was concluded through this study that soft white cheese samples contain high bacterial contamination that may threaten consumers' general health, exceeding health standards.