Microbiological Quality of UHT Milk Consumed in Turkey

This investigation was aimed to determine the microbiological control of UHT milk sold in the cities of Bitlis, Van, and Hakkari in Turkey. A total of 75 UHT milk samples from different sale points were analyzed for the microbiological control. Sampling was based on the double collection of 15 various serial coded UHT milk from each 5 different milk trades. For the control of sterilization, total aerobic mesophilic microorganism counts (TABM) were performed on Milk Plate Count Agar at 30ºC for 15 days of incubation. The aerobic mesophilic microorganisms were not detected in any samples of A, B, C, and D trades, whereas the maximum counts of 2.04 log10 CFU/g and mean of 1.05 log10 CFU/g for TABM were detected in the samples of E. Furthermore, 6.67 % of samples belonging to the E trade did not comply with the Turkish Food Codex. This was due to the differences of pH values above 0.5 and the counts of> 102 observed in pre and post incubation period. To conclude, majority of UHT milk samples from different trades did not include microorganisms. On the other hand, considering the samples which do not comply with the standards, it is essential to choose a good quality of milk used in the preparation of UHT milk as well as the regular monitoring of the microbiological quality of UHT milk for taking necessary precautions