MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF CEBRERO CHEESE FROM NORTHWEST SPAIN

Cebrero cheese is traditionally manufactured from raw cow's milk in the Cebrero mountains of Galicia (NW Spain). We report determinations of pH and a_w, and counts of total aerobic bacteria, psychrotrophs, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, molds and yeasts, in 49 samples. E. coli count exceeded the level permitted by Spanish legislation in 51% of samples. S. aureus count exceeded the level permitted in 20% of the samples. In one sample, with pH 5.06, two species of Listeria (L. monocytogenes and L. seeligeri) were detected. Although the pH of this cheese is fairly low, it does not appear to be sufficient to prevent the occurrence of certain pathogenic microorganisms.