Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality and Safety of Brand Pasteurized Milk Produced and Sold in Bishoftu, Ethiopia

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological quality and safety of pasteurized milk produced and sold in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. A total of 48 pasteurized milk samples were collected three brands of pasteurized milk. The overall mean of pasteurized milk were fat (3.08 ± 0.09%), protein (2.94 ± 0.06%), solid not fat (6.83 ± 0.17%), specific gravity (1.026 ± 0.00kg/l), add water (15.91 ± 1.85%), titratable acidity (0.16 ± 00%) and pH (6.64 ± 0.02). The overall mean of pasteurized milk were (log10 cfu/ml) aerobic mesophilic bacteria count (4.47 ± 0.10), total coliform count (2.05 ± 0.18), spore forming bacteria count (2.09 ± 0.10), yeast and mold count (2.00 ± 0.16) and E. coli (0.61 ± 0.06). The mean aerobic mesophilic bacteria count of pasteurized milk collected from Prime during non-fasting season (log10 cfu/ml 3.59 ± 0.23) was significantly lower than Mama and Holland dairy brands. The prevalence of salmonella in pasteurized milk the present study was nill. From this study it is possible to conclude that the physicochemical and microbiological quality and safety of raw milk collected B brand of pasteurized milk was substandard. Therefore, implementing strict milk quality control system and mandatory dairy product specification standard should be in place.