Their sources and entry points in milk during various stages of
production Introduction: Milk is a natural liquid product that contains almost all the nutrition required for healthy life. The secreted milk in the udder is sterile and later on various extraneous materials get their entry in to it. From the point of production to distribution, there are various points from where milk gets contaminated with different microbial and non microbial substances. Contaminants: ny accidental entry or introduction of foreign material into the milk is called contamination and the foreign materials are called contaminants. The contaminants that are introduced into the milk can be classified under two ma!or categories: . "on microbial contaminants #. Microbial contaminants Various stages of milk production $n developing countries like $ndia, the production of milk is generally carried out in villages and unorgani%ed barns. The chances of milk get contaminated at any time is high. The components and stages of milk production can be summari%ed as follows: Milk production at farm level Milk in cans &hilling centers &ollection in bulk coolers Milk plants The incidences of contamination into milk at farm level can be summari%ed as follows. I. Milk contamination at farm level . Non-microbial contaminants a !hysical contaminants: 'hysical contaminants like dirt particles, hair, leaves, rubber and mettle particles, paper pieces etc can get entry in to the milk at the time of milking. The dirt particles from air even, unclean udder or body of the cow, unclean utensils and water supply can contaminate milk. The hair of body of cow or of milk can also fall in the milk. The habits of the milker can also add some harmful contaminants like chewing tobacco, gutkha or beetle leaves can make entry of the physical contaminants into the milk. t the barn, all the activities of the milker should be scrutini%ed. The cleaning of the milking equipment should be properly done with a reliable and adequate source of water supply. The dairy barns should be maintained regularly and of good condition. The surrounding area of the barn should be kept clean from the waste materials. The milking premises should be free from the cobwebs and accumulation of the dust particles. b Chemical contaminants: (eterinary, cleaning, agricultural and disinfecting chemicals can contaminate the milk. i Veterinary and agricultural chemicals: The milch animal treated with any drug or antibiotic can contaminate milk with the residues of drugs. )uring milking, these chemicals may also be secreted along with milk. )uring milking adequate precaution should be taken so as to minimi%e the risk of getting entry of such chemicals into the milk. *uch milks should not contain them more than the safety limit approved by government. +nly registered drugs should be used to treat the animal. ii !est contaminants: 'est in the milking premises can contaminate milk with their feaces, urine, bedding materials, hair etc. at the time of milking or handling of milk. Therefore, the entry of such birds even the flies should be restricted for entry and residing at the dairy farm premises. iii "nvironmental contaminants: The environment of milking area can make entry of various chemical contaminants into the milk. The disinfectant sprays in the air, chemical substances in the water hypo chlorites, activities of neighboring farms, etc. can be proved to very harmful contaminants. iv Cleaning and disinfection: $n the dairy farm, the equipment and the surroundings are regularly cleaned and saniti%ed. These activities if not monitored properly can introduce many potential chemical contaminants into milk. )etergents are necessary to clean before disinfection of the equipment for milking purpose. The purpose of the detergents is to remove the dust particles and the milk deposits from the surfaces of milking and ancillary equipments. The disinfectants are used to make the surfaces free from the microorganisms. These chemical substances can become contaminants of milk if not cleaned properly with good quality of water. *ometimes the disinfectants are used with the detergents to improve the efficiency of cleaning. The detergents should be used with the hot water and effective removal of chemicals from the surface of such equipments should also be carried out with hot water. #. Microbial contaminants i Contamination by pathogenic bacteria: The interior of normal udder adds many microorganisms into the milk, i.e., Micrococci, streptococci and some Corynebacterium. These bacteria enter through the teat opening and coloni%e in the interior of udder. The fore milk contains mot of them, that,s why the fore milk should be excluded during milking. The mastitis causing bacteria get secreted into the milk if udder is infected. The milker can also introduce a large number of microorganisms in the milk, if he-she is not of good health. )uring machine milking, the cups and the milking machines if not cleaned regularly can contaminate milk with a wide range of microorganisms. The pathogenic bacteria may be introduced into the milk during milking and handling by the following sources: .ealthy carrier animals : Mycobacterium, Brucella nimals with mastitis : Staphylococcus, E coli Man : Staphylococcus sp., Steptococcus sp. /nvironment : Listeria sp.Staphylococcus aureus, Steptococcus, Listeria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, bovis, Brucella, E. coli ii $ecal Contamination: The fecal contamination can introduce many harmful and spoilage causing microorganisms into the milk. These transmissions can be done by the hands of the milkman, by the animal at milking, by the tail and the splashes when the bucket is near the animals. The examples of contaminating bacteria during such incidences are E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium. iii Contamination by environmental germs : 0hen milking is carried out in open air psychrotrophes flora 1Listeria, Pseudomonas2, /nterobacterias, yeast and fungus can contaminate milk. These microorganisms are found in the air of farm and if cleaning or the sweeping of the milking floor has been carried out !ust before the milking, the number of such microorganisms can be high in the environment. iv Multiplication of bacteria on milking e%uipments: $nefficient cleaning and disinfecting of material and-or poor drying lead of accumulation of a high number of microorganisms on the surfaces of such equipments and get entry into the milk. The surfaces of milking and cooling equipment are a main source of milk contamination and frequently the principal cause of consistently high bacterial counts. *imple, inexpensive cleaning and disinfecting routines can virtually eliminate this source of contamination. $$. Milk contamination at collection centers a2 &ross contamination: cleaning and inefficient disinfection of materials. bsence or bad quality control before mixing. b2 .uman contamination: hand contacts with the milk at the time of sampling and mixing of milk. c2 &ontamination by environmental germ: use of contaminated water for cleaning purpose. $$$. Milk contamination during transport a2 growing of microbial flora: carrying time too long . b2 contamination by material: hand contacts with the milk at the time of sampling.