Microbiological Evaluation of imported processed cheese sold in Khartoum market

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the  microbial quality of imported processed 
cheese. 
The study was based on collecting twenty seven samples of one type of processed 
cheese, nine from Khartoum, nine from Khartoum North and nine from Omdurman. 
Samples were collected from groceries of three different areas according to the income 
level of the majority of residents in the area. The microbial quality (total bacterial count, 
coliforms, lipolytic bacteria, proteolytic bacteria and yeasts and moulds count of the  
processed cheese were estimated. 
The microbiological results revealed that there was a significant difference 
(P<0.01) between cities in total bacterial count and proteolytic bacteria count (P<0.05). 
They were high in Khartoum North (2.32± 0.001 and 1.19 ± 0.013 respectively). 
There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in coliform and lipolytic bacteria count 
between the areas, while there was a significant difference (P<0.001) in total bacterial 
count, proteolytic bacteria count (P<0.01) and yeasts and moulds count (P<0.05). Total 
bacterial count was high in high income area (2.22±0.007), while proteolytic bacteria count 
was high in the middle income area (1.18±0.028). Yeasts and moulds count was high in 
the low income areas (1.33 ± 0.024).