Estimation of Microbial Content and Concentration of some Chemical Contaminants in Samples of Imported UHT Milk in Iraqi Local Markets

Abstract

The study was conducted with the aim of estimating the chemical and microbial contamination in samples of UHT milk in the local Iraqi markets, by estimating the microbial content and estimating the aflatoxin m1, melamine and heavy metals in four samples of UHT milk from different origins. It was found that the total count of bacteria is 0 - 1.46 log cfu/ml and spore-forming bacteria from 0 - 1.36 log cfu While the presence of yeasts and molds, coliform bacteria and Psychrophilic bacteria were not detected, the concentration of melamine was between 0.29 - 15.01 mg / L and the concentration of aflatoxin M1 between 11.5 - 105.7 ng / L, and the concentration of nickel, chromium and zinc was between 1.42 - 34.03, 4.66 - 64.29 and 0.18 - 0.55 mg/L each, respectively, while all samples were free of lead, cadmium, mercury and cobalt.