Bacterial Quality of Informally Marketed Raw Milk in Kenitra City, Morocco

Abstract

One hundred and twenty samples of raw milk were randomly collected from six dairies in different locations in Kenitra City (Morocco) from October 2010 to March 2011 and were subjected to evaluation. The study has shown that 119 samples were of poor merchantability and 24 samples of bad sanitary quality. Microbiological enumeration revealed that the counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, 6.9x10⁸ cfu mL^-1; faecal coliforms, 4.2x10⁷ cfu mL^-1 and Staphylococcus aureus, 1.4x10⁵ cfu mL^-1. Salmonella sp. were below detection level in all of the samples. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from one sample. The same contamination degree between dairies and districts (p>0.05) was detected. A significant correlation was observed between total bacterial counts and faecal coliforms (r = 0.51; p<0.001) and also between total bacterial counts and temperature of storage (r = -0.37; p<0.001). The microbiological quality of raw milk sold in Kénitra city was judged marginal indicating the need for improved hygienic standards.