Microbiological aspects of the traditional Travnik/Vlašić cheese manufactured in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

The microbiological aspects of traditional Travnik/Vlašić cheese was investigated. The cheese was made traditionally, from raw sheep milk at three small farms (A, B, C) on Mountain Vlašić. The microbiological quality of the cheese was examined during three stages of ripening (5, 30, 60 days) and followed during three seasons (3 years). Twenty-seven samples of cheese were collected and analyzed for the aerobic mesophilic count, yeasts and molds, coliforms and microorganisms from the group Staphylococcus spp. Average values determined for the number of investigated groups of microorganisms of all cheese samples throughout three different stages, seasons, and small farms were: aerobic mesophilic bacteria 8.03 log₁₀ cfu·g^-1, yeasts and molds 3.63 log₁₀ cfu·g^-1, coliforms 5.16 log₁₀ cfu g^-1, and microorganisms from the group Staphylococcus spp. 4.49 log₁₀ cfu g^-1. ANOVA showed that experimental factor ripening stage (days) had a significant effect on all testing parameters. Results obtained with this study indicate that hygiene during the production of traditional products must be increased in order to assure high quality of the final products.