Microbiological quality of raw bovine milk from Paipa, Colombia

Introduction: Foodborne diseases constitute one of the significant public health problems worldwide. There needs to be knowledge about the microbiological quality of raw bovine milk in Paipa and surrounding areas in Colombia. Objective: To determine the microbiological quality of raw bovine milk from a farm in Paipa, Boyac & aacute;. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting raw bovine milk samples to be microbiologically analyzed. This analysis included counting mesophilic aerobes, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, total and fecal coliforms, molds, and yeasts, as well as detecting the presence/absence of pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria sp. and Salmonella sp. Results: Twenty-five raw milk samples were analyzed, revealing that most of the samples did not meet the permissible limits set by the standard. The prevalence of Salmonella sp. was 24%, contrary to Listeria sp., which was 0%. Conclusions: The raw milk samples did not comply with the permissible limits of the regulations governing Colombia. More studies are recommended to understand the microbiological reality of milk in the region.