Microbiological safety and quality of Italian donkey milk.

Considering that few data are currently available about donkey milk microbiological quality and given the spread of food-borne outbreaks strongly linked with the consumption of raw milk, the aim of the present study was to investigate the microbiological quality and the food safety of Italian donkey milk. Total viable count (TVC) and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus were evaluated to verify the process hygiene criteria for donkey's milk. The presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, E. coli O157, and Campylobacter spp. were evaluated to estimate its food safety criteria. The study revealed that the TVC values were compliant with European legislation. Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Cronobacter sakazakii were not detected. However, the presence of E. coli O157 and Campylobacter coli was observed, highlighting an important health-related issue, underlining the need to implement an adequate control plan by p...