Abstract

Eighty samples of raw milk, collected from eight Tunisian centres, were characterised. All these samples contained approximately 10¹¹ cfu/ml of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB), Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts and coliforms dominated the microflora of these samples. They varied from 10⁵ to 10⁹ cfu/ml. More than 70% of the analysed samples contained 10⁶ cfu/ml of Pseudomonas. The content of contaminating microflora likeStaphylococcus, coliforms and mesophilic and thermophilic Bacillus ranged from 10² to 10⁹ cfu/ml. However, mesophilic and thermophilic Clostridium were absent in all samples. This study could allow establishing the microflora distribution, revealing the non conformity of these eighty samples with standards, and pointing out eventual microbiological standards values of raw collected milk by comparison with standards.

Key words: Raw milk, milk collect, contamination, milk standards, microbiological references.