Evaluation of Some Quality Parameters of Street Milk Sold in Balıkesir, Türkiye

Sezen N. E., Güner T. E., Göçmez E. B.

Advances in Food Safety and Technology, cilt.1, sa.01, ss.34-40, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 1 Sayı: 01
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Dergi Adı: Advances in Food Safety and Technology
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.34-40
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of raw milk sold through informal distribution channels (commonly referred to as “street milk”), including neighborhood markets and delicatessensin Balıkesir Province, Türkiye, and to determine the presence of inhibitory/neutralizing substances and antibiotic residues. During a one-year period, a total of 500 raw milk samples were collected from different sales points in Balıkesir. Physicochemical analyses (total solids, fat, protein, lactose, pH, freezing point, density, and titratable acidity) were performed using a milk analyzer. Somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined using an automated cell counting system, and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) counts were determined according to TS EN ISO 4833-2:2013. Inhibitory/neutralizing substances (H₂O₂, NaHCO₃, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, starch, and boric acid/borates) were analyzed following the AOAC Official Methods of Analysis (2019), while antibiotic residues (β-lactam, tetracycline, and sulfonamide groups) were screened using commercial rapid screening test kits. Descriptive statistics (minimum, maximum, and mean values) were used for data evaluation. The physicochemical properties of the samples were generally within commonly accepted quality ranges, and no evidence of water adulteration was detected. All samples were negative for inhibitory/neutralizing substances and tetracycline or sulphonamideresidues, while weak positive results for β-lactam antibiotics wereobserved in 8 out of 500 samples (1.6%). The mean TAMB count (7.18 ± 0.41 log CFU/mL) was relatively high, whereas the mean SCC (385,000 ± 58,500 cells/mL) was within ranges reported in the literature. Although the chemical composition and residue finding s were generally consistent with reported values, the elevated TAMB counts may be associated with suboptimal hygienic conditions during milking and post-milking handling. These findings suggest that the consumption of untreated street milk may pose potential risks to food safety and public health, highlighting the importance of pasteurization and proper hygienic handling of milk before consumption.

Bu çalışma, Türkiye'nin Balıkesir ilinde mahalle pazarları ve şarküteriler de dahil olmak üzere gayri resmi dağıtım kanalları aracılığıyla satılan (genellikle "sokak sütü" olarak adlandırılan) çiğ sütün fizikoşimik ve mikrobiyolojik özelliklerini değerlendirmeyi ve inhibitör/nötralize edici maddelerin ve antibiyotik kalıntılarının varlığını belirlemeyi amaçlamıştır. Bir yıllık süre boyunca, Balıkesir'deki farklı satış noktalarından toplam 500 çiğ süt örneği toplandı. Fizikoşimik analizler (toplam katı madde, yağ, protein, laktoz, pH, donma noktası, yoğunluk ve titre edilebilir asitlik) bir süt analizörü kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Somatik hücre sayımları (SCC) otomatik bir hücre sayım sistemi kullanılarak belirlendi ve toplam aerobik mezofilik bakteri (TAMB) sayımları TS EN ISO 4833-2:2013'e göre belirlendi. İnhibitör/nötralize edici maddeler (H₂O₂, NaHCO₃, formaldehit, salisilik asit, nişasta ve borik asit/boratlar) AOAC Resmi Analiz Yöntemleri (2019) uyarınca analiz edilirken, antibiyotik kalıntıları (β-laktam, tetrasiklin ve sülfonamid grupları) ticari hızlı tarama test kitleri kullanılarak tarandı. Veri değerlendirmesi için tanımlayıcı istatistikler (minimum, maksimum ve ortalama değerler) kullanıldı. Numunelerin fizikokimyasal özellikleri genel olarak yaygın kabul gören kalite aralıkları içindeydi ve su tağşişine dair hiçbir kanıt tespit edilmedi. Tüm numuneler inhibitör/nötralize edici maddeler ve tetrasiklin veya sülfonamid kalıntıları açısından negatifti, ancak 500 numuneden 8'inde (%1,6) β-laktam antibiyotikleri için zayıf pozitif sonuçlar gözlemlendi. Ortalama TAMB sayısı (7,18 ± 0,41 log CFU/mL) nispeten yüksekken, ortalama SCC (385.000 ± 58.500 hücre/mL) literatürde bildirilen aralıklar içindeydi. Kimyasal bileşim ve kalıntı bulguları genel olarak bildirilen değerlerle tutarlı olsa da, yüksek TAMB sayılarının sağım ve sağım sonrası işlemler sırasında yetersiz hijyenik koşullarla ilişkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir. Bu bulgular, işlenmemiş sokak sütünün tüketiminin gıda güvenliği ve halk sağlığı açısından potansiyel riskler oluşturabileceğini ve tüketimden önce sütün pastörizasyonunun ve uygun hijyenik işlemlerinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of raw milk sold through informal distribution channels (commonly referred to as “street milk”), including neighborhood markets and delicatessensin Balıkesir Province, Türkiye, and to determine the presence of inhibitory/neutralizing substances and antibiotic residues. During a one-year period, a total of 500 raw milk samples were collected from different sales points in Balıkesir. Physicochemical analyses (total solids, fat, protein, lactose, pH, freezing point, density, and titratable acidity) were performed using a milk analyzer. Somatic cell counts (SCC) were determined using an automated cell counting system, and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) counts were determined according to TS EN ISO 4833-2:2013. Inhibitory/neutralizing substances (H₂O₂, NaHCO₃, formaldehyde, salicylic acid, starch, and boric acid/borates) were analyzed following the AOAC Official Methods of Analysis (2019), while antibiotic residues (β-lactam, tetracycline, and sulfonamide groups) were screened using commercial rapid screening test kits. Descriptive statistics (minimum, maximum, and mean values) were used for data evaluation. The physicochemical properties of the samples were generally within commonly accepted quality ranges, and no evidence of water adulteration was detected. All samples were negative for inhibitory/neutralizing substances and tetracycline or sulphonamideresidues, while weak positive results for β-lactam antibiotics wereobserved in 8 out of 500 samples (1.6%). The mean TAMB count (7.18 ± 0.41 log CFU/mL) was relatively high, whereas the mean SCC (385,000 ± 58,500 cells/mL) was within ranges reported in the literature. Although the chemical composition and residue finding s were generally consistent with reported values, the elevated TAMB counts may be associated with suboptimal hygienic conditions during milking and post-milking handling. These findings suggest that the consumption of untreated street milk may pose potential risks to food safety and public health, highlighting the importance of pasteurization and proper hygienic handling of milk before consumption.