The survey of fungal contamination in provincial flour milling industry, Lorestan province, West of Iran

Abstract

Objective: Wheat is a strategic food crop in Iran. General consumption of wheat enhances the public health risk of probable contamination in the wheat products. Wheat is also exposed to different types of the microbial, fungal and chemical agents which could spoil it. This investigation intends to examine products of the flour milling factories for microbial contaminations. Methods: Since March to April 2014, 78 samples of flour produced in the factories of Dorood, Borujerd, Khorramabad, Aligoodarz, Koohdasht, Alashtar, Noor Abad, and Pol-e-Dokhtar were provided and submitted to the laboratory of food and drug administration. The total microbial load and mold population were counted by tests conformed to Iran national standard No. 2393. Results: The obtained results implied the all samples followed microbiological criteria for total microbial load and mold counting. Conclusions: All samples were acceptable and consumable so wheat milling process in the factories of Lorestan province carried out under sanitary condition.