Quality and safety of cow milk under conditions of ecological risk

Abstract

Public health is a key factor in the development of the country and a special direction of state policy aimed at controlling the quality and safety of food products. Milk produced in regions with persistent multifactorial technogenic pollution of habitat obj ects, causing a high risk of raw materials contamination can adversely affect human health and cause long-term negative effects. The quality and safety of milk is a complex indicator, based on presence of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and the absence of potentially dangerous substances, such as heavy metals, antibiotics and radionuclides. Produced in the conditions of megapolis, cow milk has shown good physico-chemical (freezing point – minus 0.533 °C; acidity – 16.30 °T; density – 28.4 °A) and technological (thermostability – 80.2 %) parameters and also good sanitary and hygienic properties (low bacterial contamination and somatic cells level, absence of pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms). No substances displacing technological processes during the production of dairy products (antibiotics), inhibitors and falsifiers were found in milk samples. Milk was characterized with minimal content of potentially hazardous substances (compounds of lead, cadmium and mercury). The detected 137Cs concentrations corresponded to the background level of the radionuclide content value. Cow milk produced in the environmental risks zone fully meets the requirements established by regulatory documents and can be used as a raw material for the production of high-quality and safe dairy products, including baby food.