Microbiological analysis of honey with mould identification

Sa？etak The aim of this study was to examine the microbiological quality of honey sampled in the northwest region of Croatia. During 2018, a total number of 40 honey samples were taken and analysed for the number and/or presence of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family, sulphite- reducing clostridia, yeasts and moulds, according to Croatian National Guidelines on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs. Out of the total number of analysed honey samples, the presence of yeasts was noted in 25% of the samples, whereas moulds were determined in 27.5% of the samples, ranging from 10 to 100 cfu/g. Isolated moulds that were unsuitable according to the recommended quantitative criterion (10 cfu/g) were singled out and subjected to further identification, whereby seven genera of moulds were recovered: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Mucor, Acremonium, Paecylomyces and Pestalotiopsis. Although the majority of moulds isolated in this study are common contaminants of bee products, their presence indicates the need for production according to the guidelines for good beekeeping practices with systematic microbiological controls of honey and other bee products