Food Safety Assessment of Raw Milk in North Khorasan Province: Analysis of the Situation and Providing Standardization Solutions

Esfandyari, Morteza; Delavari Amrei, Hossein; Azami, Hamed

doi:10.22038/jreh.2025.25737

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22038/jreh.2025.25737

Abstract

Background and purpose: Milk and dairy products are essential components of human nutrition; however, traditional dairy products often pose a high risk of transmitting pathogenic agents due to inadequate hygiene conditions. This study aimed to assess the food safety of raw milk and traditional dairy products in Bojnord and provide recommendations for their standardization.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on several raw milk samples from traditional dairy distribution centers in Bojnord. Physical tests (fat content, pH, acidity), chemical tests (aflatoxin M1), and microbial tests (total microbial count and coliform levels) were performed according to national standards. Data were analyzed using statistical methods.

Results: The results indicated that 70% of the raw milk samples had fat content below the standard level (average: 63.2%), while pH (average: 6.76) and acidity (average: 0.15% lactic acid) were within the permissible range. Aflatoxin M1 was not detected in any of the samples. Microbiological analysis revealed that 60% of the samples had a microbial load exceeding the permissible limit, and only 10% met the standard for coliform count. Additionally, 40% of the samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that raw milk distributed in Bojnord does not fully comply with national standards regarding chemical composition and microbial load. The reduced fat content and high microbial contamination underscore the need for improvements in production, storage, and distribution processes. Ensuring strict adherence to health standards, implementing quality control measures in distribution centers, continuously monitoring microbial contamination, and utilizing appropriate equipment are essential for enhancing the safety and quality of these products.

Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords

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Journal of Research in Environmental Health

Food Safety Assessment of Raw Milk in North Khorasan Province: Analysis of the Situation and Providing Standardization Solutions

References

References

Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 40
March 2025
Pages 106-118

Food Safety Assessment of Raw Milk in North Khorasan Province: Analysis of the Situation and Providing Standardization Solutions

References

References

Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 40March 2025Pages 106-118

Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 40
March 2025
Pages 106-118