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Page No. : 83-87

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to screen the milk, milk products and environmental samples for the incidence and count of Bacillus cereus. Seventy five samples each of raw milk, farm water, feed and soil were collected from various sources viz., college dairy farm, private organized dairy farms and smallmilk producers. Fifty samples of each pasteurized, UHT and flavoured milks, whole milk powder and burfi samples were also collected in ice packs from branded and unbranded manufacturers. Out of 25 samples each of raw milk, water, feed and soil samples collected from college dairy farm, private organized dairyfarm and small producers from villages, the incidence of B. cereus ranged from 40% - 80% and counts of B. cereus ranged from 3.6 x 103 to 6.20 x 105 cfu/ml. Out of 25 samples each of pasteurized, ultrahigh temperature (UHT) and flavoured milks, milk powder and burfi collected from branded and unbranded sources the incidence of B.cereus ranged from 16% to 88%. B. cereus counts were from 2x102 to 5.25x 105 cfu/ml, respectively. The higher incidence of Bacillus cereus is an indicative of unhygienic conditions and environmental pollution in and around dairy farms.

Keywords: Bacillus cereus, incidence and count, milk, milk products.