Comparison of the Quality of Two Types of Milk at Two Sources in the Belo Horizonte, Brazil Market

Type B and type C milk samples were collected at the processing plant and at random points of retail sales. Coliform counts (MPN) were significantly higher in comparable milk sampled at retail than when sampled at the processing plant. Standard plate counts were higher at retail than at the processing plant. Thirty one of 53 samples of type C milk contained in excess of the 150,000/ml maximum for bacteria specified by code when tested at retail compared to 14 of 63 when tested at the creamery. Tests to predict shelf life by incubating specially prepared samples at 20 C indicated a sharp decline in quality between the industry and consumption. This sharp decline in quality between industry and consumption appeared to be a major problem that must be resolved in the present milk market. Type B milk was found to be a much superior product when examined by quality tests of this study. Flavor scores for the type B milk were consistently higher than the comparable type C samples. Type B milk was more commonly cr...