Microbiological characteristics of Anevato: a traditional Greek cheese

Nine batches of Anevato, raw goat milk cheese, were examined throughout a 60 day storage time at three different periods within the lactation season of the goat. High mean log counts per gram of cheese for aerobic bacteria (7.92-9.56), lactic acid bacteria (7.78-9.32), Gram-negative organisms 5.64-9.67), psychrotrophs (7.90-11.79) and proteolytic bacteria (7.57-9.36) were found. Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms and yeasts were considerably lower. Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms in the curd of cheese made in May were lower by approximately 3.0 log(10) cfu g(-1) than counts in curd made in January, and were lower by about 2.5 log(10) cfu g(-1) than those in cheese made in March. This coincided with lower pH and higher counts of lactic acid bacteria in cheese made in March and May. Yeast populations were affected by the season and were higher in May than March and/or January. Lactococci dominated in the cheese until 15 days, but lactobacilli became predominant after 30 days. Lactococcus lactis was the most abundant species of lactic acid bacteria found in Anevato cheese. Results suggest the need for improving milk quality and/or using heat-treated milk to produce Anevato cheese; the use of L. lactis as a starter would possibly eliminate or suppress the growth of undesirable organisms.