Microbial Contamination in Some Commercial Biscuits in Baghdad City

Abstract

This study has been conducted to know the level of microbial ( bacteria and fungi) contamination in 5 types of biscuits from local markets of Baghdad city. Fifty samples (ten sample for each kind of biscuit) were studed,Two are local,others are Iranian,Turkish,and Holandies.The following results have been achieved :1.The highest number of bacteria was 21.6×103 cell/g in Iranian biscuit while the lowest number was 14.3× 103 cell/g in local biscuit No.1 . The highest number of fungi was 16×103 colony/g and the lowest number was 5.3×103 colony/g in the Iranian and the local biscuit No.1,respectively.2.Staphylococcus aureus was the major bacteria appeared at highest level of 100% in Turkish biscuit. The lowest percentage was found in Hollandian biscuit with 37.28%. Bacillus cereus was the major bacteria with a percentage of 100% in local biscuit No.2 where as the lowest was in local biscuit No,1with a percentage of 20.93%, while it was not existed in Turkish biscuit. Esherichia coli was found in Hollandian biscuit at highest rate of 38.98% , the lowest value was appeared in Iranian biscuit with 28.16% while it was not exited in local biscuit No.1,2 and Turkish biscuit.3. Aspergillus niger appeared at highest level of 66.66% in Hollandian biscuit, while was the lowest 37.73% in local biscuit No.1 and not existed in local biscuit No.2, The highest value of A.flavus was 69.76% in local biscuit No.2 and the lowest value in Hollandian biscuit in percentage 8.33%. It has not appeared in Iranian and Turkish biscuit. The A. terreus appeared at highest rate in Turkish biscuit with 33.33% , the lowest value was in local biscuit No.2 at 11.62% and was not appeared in Hollandian biscuit.The Penicillium spp. Was found at highest rate 25% in Hollandian biscuit , the lowest value of 9.52% was appeared in Turkish biscuit.