Survey of Egyptian soft cheeses for presence of coliforms and enteropathogenic escherichia coli

Abstract EN

The study was carried out on 75 samples of Egyptian soft cheeses [kareish cheese, Damitta fresh cheese and Damitta ripened cheese (25 samples of each)] to determine the counts of coliforms and enteropath-ogenic E.

coli.

Coliforms and E.

coli were detected in all kareish cheese samples (mean counts 7.4 x 104 / g), while 84 % of Damitta fresh cheese samples have coliform count (mean 4.8 x 103 / g) and 36 % of this product was contaminated with E.

coli (mean 2.6 x 103 / g).

By comparing the results obtained within the permissible limits set by British Standards and European Economic Communities "EEC", the findings indicated that 80 % & 80 % of kareish cheese and 16 % & 28 % of Damitta fresh cheese samples exceed the microbiological standards for coliforms and E.

coli counts respectively.

While Damitta ripened cheese samples comply with the microbiological criteria specified in these standards.

Serotyping of E.

coli isolates from soft cheese are belonged to eight different serotypes O26, O44, O55, O86, O111, O119, O125 and O126.

Prevention of contamination and growth of coliforms and enteropatho-genic E.

coli in Egyptian soft cheeses were discussed.