Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Yoghurt Sold in El-Behera Governorate

A total of fifty random samples of yoghurt collected from vendors and wholesale markets in El-Behera Governorate to assess their microbiological quality. The pH was determined and microbiological assessments were conducted in order to ascertain, the Coliforms count, Enterococci count, Staphylococcus aureus count and yeast count and mould count in the examined samples. Results given revealed that the mean values of pH was 4.06 ± 0.068, the mean value of Coliform count, Enterococci count, Staphylococcus aureus count, yeast count and mould counts were 5.6 x 10^4 ± 3.68 x 10³, 5.8 x 10^4 ± 5.43 x 10³, 5.5 x 10^4 ± 3.45 x 10³, 5.6 x 10^4 ± 4.9 x10³ and 5.3 x 10^4 ± 3.33 x10³ respectively, with respective incidences of 58, 28, 42, 28 and 40%. These findings suggest that yogurt traded in whole sale market in El-Behera Governorate has poor microbiological quality control. This poses danger to public health. Therefore, attention of the appropriate government agencies and manufacturers is needed to ensure that sale of yogurt by vendors is done in most appropriate condition and in a mobile refrigerator to maintain adequate temperature, thereby reduce contamination.