[Studies on the Microbiological Quality of Mammary Gland Tissues (author's transl)]. / Een onderzoek naar de microbiologische kwaliteit van uierweefsel.

During the period from August to December 1976, 239 bovine udders were examined for their microbiological quality. Counts were made of the total number of aerobes, anaerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, coliform micro-organisms and staphylococci positive for coagulas and DNA-ase. The udders were examined for the presence or absence of Salmonella, E. coli and haemolytic streptococci. In addition, the Enterobacteriaceae were identified. The udders examined were from animals brought up for slaughter from all over the country. The studies were designed to examine whether udders are suited as raw material for products to be consumed by human individuals. The number of pathogenic bacteria isolated was found to be considerable and the average bacterial counts were rather high. The studies showed that the bacterial content of mammary-gland tissues has an adverse effect on the quality of raw meats made from these tissues so that they are not aceptable from the point of view of public health. Even when they are used as raw material for heated products, the risk of food poisoning caused by toxin produced by staphylococci cannot be entirely ruled out.

[Antibiotic residues in bovine udders passed for consumption and meats containing milk-gland tissues (author's transl)]. / Antibiotica-residuen in goedgekeurde runderuiers en in daaruit bereide vleeswaren.

Residues of identifiable antibiotics were found to be present in approximately 8.1 per cent of 999 bovine udders. In order to form an opinion on the consequences to consumers, the extent to which using milk-gland tissues results in the presence of detectable antibiotic residues in meats, was studied. For this purpose, 797 samples of meats were examined for antibiotic residues during the period from August to December 1976. The samples came from all over the country. Having been screened, the positive samples were examined by high-voltage electrophoresis on agar gel. The number of samples found to contain antibiotic residues could not be neglected. The results of these studies show that incorporating udder tissues in meats and meat-containing products is not acceptable without closer examination. It is doubted whether the decision to pass udders as fit for human consumption after palpation, incision and inspection is a correct procedure.