Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the common uses and evaluate the microbiological safety of raw milk sold in southern Benin. To determine the different uses of raw milk, 345 individuals were surveyed in three locations (Allada, Ouidah, and Zongo). Per location, 115 individuals were randomly sampled. For the microbial analysis, milk samples were collected from the three targeted locality in southern Benin (Allada, Ouidah, and Zongo). Our data shows that the mean values (CFU/ml) of the analyzed samples vary according to the research organisms. Thus, it is recorded 1.8 × 108 for total aerobic mesophilic flora (TMC), 4.0 × 107 for fecal coliforms (FC), 3.5 × 107 for Escherichia coli, 2.8 × 107 for total coliforms (TC), 2.1 × 107 for Fecal Streptococci (FS), 1.6 × 107 for yeasts and molds (YM), 1.7 × 107 for sulfur reducing anaerobic bacteria (SRA) and 1.2 × 107 for Staphylococcus spp. None of the milk samples contained Salmonella spp. Globally, milk samples had important bacterial load with the highest values for those collected from Zongo and Ouidah. It can be said that raw milk sold in the Southern Benin’s markets does not comply with good hygienic practice rules in milking, storage, transportation and sale. Thus, raw cow milk sold presents a serious health risk for potential consumers. Key words: Raw milk, microbiological quality, food safety, pathogens, Benin.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is important that the government’s strategies for the development of the dairy sector include direct collaboration with traditional producers in order to give them basic training in good hygiene practices and in situ quality control
The milk is transported as is from these areas to the points of sale in Allada, Ouidah and Zongo in taxi
Results of the study clearly indicated the low microbiological quality of raw milk sold in local markets
Summary
It is important that the government’s strategies for the development of the dairy sector include direct collaboration with traditional producers in order to give them basic training in good hygiene practices and in situ quality control. To this end, data on the quality of fresh milk, for which urban demand continues to grow, are important to alert the authorities and producers and help them to set up guides to good hygiene practices, in terms of collection and storage. These authors carried out their studies in northern Benin targeting two municipalities with large dairy production
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