Microbiological quality and safety of raw milk from direct sale in northern Germany

The microbiological status of raw milk sold from vending stations at farm level in northern Germany was determined in relation to hygiene quality parameters and the presence of foodborne pathogens. For this, one hundred and ten samples were examined. The total viable count (TVC) was higher than 5 log cfu mL−1 in 36.4% of the milk samples. Counts of Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts and moulds were detected at mean values of 3.9 ± 1.3 log cfu mL−1, 2.7 ± 1.2 log cfu mL−1, 3.1 ± 0.9 log cfu mL−1 and 1.5 ± 0.8 log cfu mL−1, respectively. Overall, only 43% of the raw milk samples were of satisfactory quality from a microbiological point of view. Campylobacter jejuni and Arcobacter butzleri were determined in the enrichment broth of three raw milk samples. A long-term monitoring of three farms revealed that individual differences in farm management practice influenced raw milk quality.