Physicochemical and Microbial Quality Assessment of Raw Cow Milk from Cairo and Nile Delta Regions, Egypt: Compliance with Regulatory Standards.

Milk is a nutritionally rich and biologically complex liquid containing fats, proteins, lactose, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds essential for human health. Its chemical composition and microbiological quality determine its safety for consumption and industrial processing. This study assessed physicochemical properties and microbial contamination in raw cow milk samples from Cairo and Delta regions, Egypt. A total of 159 samples were collected from farms, street vendors, collection centers, markets, and hypermarkets over six months (March-August 2024). Analysis included physical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, freezing point, and density), chemical composition (fat, protein, lactose, ash, and solids-not-fat) and microbial contamination (aerobic mesophiles, psychrotrophs, Staphylococcus aureus, Coliforms, enterococci, yeasts, and molds). Results revealed significant microbial contamination, particularly S. aureus (6.28-6.32 log CFU/mL), exceeding Egyptian standards (2 log CFU/mL). Yeast and mold counts were also elevated (5.01-5.48 log CFU/mL). Significant differences (P<0.05) existed between regions: Delta samples showed higher psychrotrophic counts (6.76 vs. 6.38 log CFU/mL), while Cairo samples had higher enterococcal counts (6.21 vs. 5.28 log CFU/mL). Although physicochemical properties met Egyptian standards, widespread microbial contamination poses serious public health risks, necessitating improved hygiene practices throughout the milk production chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]