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This study was designed to investigate the microbiological and chemical characteristics of kurut, a dairy product obtained by drying yogurt under the sun in rural areas of Turkey. For this purpose, 50 randomly collected kurut samples from the Kars Region were analysed for determination of their microbiological and chemical characteristics. Analysis of kurut samples showed that kurut contained on average 4.52 log10 cfu/g of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, 2.78 log10 cfu/g of aerobic mesophyl spores, 3.60 log10 cfu/g of lactic acid bacteria, 3.60 log10 cfu/g of Lactococcus, 3.94 log10 cfu/g of mould and yeast, 2.13 log10 cfu/g of Enterobacteriaceae, l.51 log10 cfu/g of sulphite‐reducing clostridia, and 1.81 log10 cfu/g of coagulase‐positive staphylococci. Coliform bacteria and enterococci bacteria were not detected in any of the kurut samples. Furthermore, chemical characteristics of the kurut were as follows: pH 4.2, acidity (lactic acid) 2.9, moisture 12.1%, fat 45.9% protein 25.5%, salt 6.7% and ash 10.0%. The quality characteristics of kurut presented here may help create a different perspective for new products to be produced in the dairy sector.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens and its toxins in minced meat. A total of 96 minced meat samples were collected from local markets (16) and small butcher's shops (80) in Kars (Turkey). Samples were analysed for the presence of C. perfringens and its toxins using a commercially available ELISA kit. A total of 31 (32%) Clostridium spp. strains were isolated and 17 (55%) of these isolates were identified as C. perfringens. Four (25%) of the samples from local markets and 27 (34%) from small butcher's shops were contaminated with Clostridium spp. Furthermore, C. perfringens was isolated from two (12%) and 15 (19%) samples from local markets and small butcher's shops, respectively. Mean counts of Clostridium spp. were 2.2 +/- 0.83 x 10(2) CFU g(-1) for local markets and 4.35 +/- 8.53 x 10(2) CFU g(-1) for small butcher's shops; mean counts for C. porringers were 2.75 +/- 0.21 x 10(2) and 6.82 +/- 10.96 x 10(2) CFU g(-1) from markets and butcher's shops, respectively. The number of samples contaminated with both Clostridium spp. and C. perfringens was higher in small butcher's shops than in local markets. Moreover, higher numbers of Clostridium spp. and C. perfringens were isolated in samples from small butcher's shops than from local markets. A total of 13 (13%) samples were also positive for toxins produced by the organism, as detected by ELISA. Eleven samples from small butcher's shops and two samples from local markets were positive for the C. perfringens toxins tested. Moreover, two (12%), one (1%), four (4%) and two (2%) samples were contaminated with C. perfringens types A, B, C and D, respectively. In conclusion, some meat samples collected from local markets and small butcher's shops contained C. perfringens and its toxins and, therefore, present a potential risk of food poisoning.

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