Microbiological Quality of Soft Cheese Marketed in Cairo and Giza Governorates

In this study, the microbial quality and safety of the kareish and domiati cheeses were studied. A total of 200 cheese samples (100 each of kareish and domiati cheese) were collected randomly from different supermarkets and retailer shops in Cairo and Giza Governorates. Samples were analyzed for total colony count (TCC), total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and yeast and mold counts, as well as serotyping of E. coli and Salmonella spp. Both kareish and domiati cheese samples were highly contaminated, having bacterial load exceeding the acceptable limit. The microbiological quality of both cheeses was judged as poor. Pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, B. cereus and S. aureus) were detected in some of the cheese samples. None of examined cheese samples contained detectable levels of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. A high microbial load of the cheese samples represent a public health hazard to the consumers and emphasize the need for improving hygienic standard