studies on soft cheese manufactured by small and large scale

Seventy five random samples (50 of small scale produced soft cheese and 25 large scale produced soft cheese) were collected from different localities in Zagazig city, Sharkia Governorate and subjected to microbiological examination.It’s evident from the obtained results that the mean total colony count/g. in examined small scale produced soft cheese and large scale produced soft cheese samples were 3.9X108 and 2.6X104, respectively.Concerning the staphylococci, the mean value in examined small scale produced soft cheese samples was 7X104±2.1X104, but staphylococci cannot be detected in large scale produced soft cheese samples.Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the predominated Staphylococci isolated from the examined small scale produced soft cheese samples.The obtained results revealed that the mean coliform count/g. in examined small scale produced soft cheese samples was 6.0X104, while coliform organisms cannot be detected in large scale produced soft cheese samples.The most prevalent coliform species isolated from examined small scale produced soft cheese samples were Klebsiella terrigena, Kleb. Planticola, Citrobacter diversus, Enterobacter agglomerans, Ent. amnigenus biogroup 1 and Ent. amnigenus biogroup 2.On the other hands, mean count of Enterococcus faecalis, Ent. Faecium and Ent. intermediate in examined small scale produced soft cheese samples were 2.2X105, 1.9X105 and 3.0X104/g., respectively.Although yeast and mould were detected in both examined small and large scale produced soft cheese samples by a mean value of 5.8X104 ± 2.1X104 and 7.9X103 ± 2.3X103, respectively.Salmonellae failed to be detected in all examined small and large scale produced soft cheese samples.