BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTING OF MILK FOR REGULATORY PURPOSES–USEFULNESS OF CURRENT PROCEDURES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE

Abstract

The present systems for bacteriological testing of raw milk for quality and regulatory purposes are briefly discussed. Recommendations are made to partially bridge the lack of relationship between test results and farm conditions. These suggestions include: (a) further standardization of “standard methods”; (b) an increase in training and supervision of testing personnel; (c) use of more milking time inspections; (d) the revision of routine agar plate count testing to include automation, selective media, and enhanced colony productivity by the use of lower incubation temperatures and longer incubation times; (e) making results of bacteriological testing more readily available and understandable to the producer and the fieldman; and (f) increasing the stringency of our bacterial standards for raw milk.