Raw milk from vending machines: Effects of boiling, microwave treatment, and refrigeration on microbiological quality.
In Italy, the sale of raw milk from vending machines has been allowed since 2004. Boiling treatment before its use is mandatory for the consumer, because the raw milk could be an important source of foodborne pathogens. This study fits into this context with the aim to evaluate the microbiological quality of 30 raw milk samples periodically collected (March 2013 to July 2013) from 3 vending machines located in Molise, a region of southern Italy. Milk samples were stored for 72 h at 4 °C and then subjected to different treatments, such as boiling and microwaving, to simulate domestic handling. The results show that all the raw milk samples examined immediately after their collection were affected by high microbial loads, with values very close to or even greater than those acceptable by Italian law. The microbial populations increased during refrigeration, reaching after 72 h values of about 8.0 log cfu/mL for Pseudomonas spp., 6.5 log cfu/mL for yeasts, and up to 4.0 log cfu/mL for Enterobacteriaceae. Boiling treatment, applied after 72 h to refrigerated milk samples, caused complete decontamination, but negatively affected the nutritional quality of the milk, as demonstrated by a drastic reduction of whey proteins. The microwave treatment at 900 W for 75 s produced microbiological decontamination similar to that of boiling, preserving the content in whey proteins of milk. The microbiological characteristics of raw milk observed in this study fully justify the obligation to boil the raw milk from vending machines before consumption. However, this study also showed that domestic boiling causes a drastic reduction in the nutritional value of milk. Microwave treatment could represent a good alternative to boiling, on the condition that the process variables are standardized for safe domestic application.
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Patrizio
P
Tremonte
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Luca
L
Tipaldi
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Mariantonietta
M
Succi
Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari e Ambientali, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
Gianfranco
G
Pannella
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Luisa
L
Falasca
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Valeria
V
Capilongo
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Raffaele
R
Coppola
Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti (Dep. A.A.A.), University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy. Electronic address: sorrentino@unimol.it.
Elena
E
Sorrentino
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005509:Food Dispensers, Automatic; D005516:Food Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007558:Italy; D007784:Lactoperoxidase / Q000032:analysis; D008872:Microwaves; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000592:standards; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000254:growth & development*; D012034:Refrigeration; D000067816:Whey Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D000067816:Whey Proteins; D007784:Lactoperoxidase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase
boiling; food safety; microwave treatment; unpasteurized raw milk