Pathogen presence in cottage cheese sold for public consumption at Sarajevo Canton markets

Cottage cheese is the largest segment of the dairy market and is most often consumed as a fresh food. The microbiological quality of domestic cottage cheese can pose a problem for public health. Cottage cheese belongs to a group of foods having a potential public health risk. The aim of this study was to conduct microbiological research to determine the level of sanitary safety of cottage cheese types acquired from the most frequents markets of Sarajevo Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Of the total (n=40) analysed cheese types, 22 samples (55%) proved to be meet sanitary requirements, while 18 samples (45%) did not meet microbiological quality, pursuant to the microbiological criteria for cheese stipulated by the National Regulation of Microbiological Criteria B&H and Guidelines for Microbiological Food Criteria B&H. The study included 24 samples of pasteurised and 16 samples of unpasteurised milk. However, five cheese samples (20.8%) from pasteurised milk, and 13 samples (81.3%) from unpasteurised milk were non-compliant. Microbiological analysis was conducted for compulsory and several recommended microorganisms: Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, coagulase positive staphylococci and other species (Staphylococcus aureus), Escherichia coli, and yeasts and moulds. Our findings confirm that the most common bacteria were S. aureus and E. coli. Also, yeasts and moulds were detected but were within the permissible concentrations. Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were not detected in any of the examined samples.