Prevalence of Escherichia coli in milk and different milk products sold under market conditions at Lahore

Milk and milk products are an important part of our diet. Quality of food counts much for human health, especially in developing countries where proper hygienic facilities are not practiced. In the present study 120 samples (60 from areas of better sanitation and 60 from those of poor sanitation) of milk and different milk products like Rasgulla, Gulabjamun, Barfi, Khoa and Dahi were screened for the comparative analysis of presence, absence and abundance of Escherichia coli. An overall 54% samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli. Number and ratio of contaminations was greater in samples from areas of poor sanitation than those of better sanitation as expected. Whereas C.F.U counts of Dahi (yogurt) for both areas were amazingly higher counted up to 212.16±17.54×103 and 189.35±3.42×103 for the poor and better sanitation areas, respectively. Visualization of the milk products in terms of their cultivable E. coli contents declare fecal contamination and a possible route for travelling of enteric pathogens.