QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF HISTAMINE IN CHEESE COLLECTED FROM KAFR EL-SHEIKH GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Food Control Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt

Abstract

Forty cheese samples (20 each of Ras and Edam cheese) were randomly collected from different supermarkets at Kafr El- Sheikh Governorate, Egypt.The collected samples were homogenized and packed in polyethylene bags and stored below -20 oC prior to quantitative analysis of Histamine (HIS) using Ridascreen Histamine (Enzyme Immunoassay for quantitative analysis of histamine). Histamine was found in 100 and 75% of the analyzed Ras and Edam cheese samples with a total percentage of 87.5%, and mean concentrations of 23.38± 2.04, 1.08± 0.12 and 13.82± 0.46 mg/ 100 g, respectively. Eighty% of the examined Ras cheese presented a HIS concentration over 100 mg /kg the recommended upper limit for histamine. While, the concentrations of HIS in all Edam cheese samples analyzed were lower than the maximum acceptable limit. As HIS content in cheese samples of different type and origin varied to a great extent, obligatory monitoring of histamine should be considered as a valuable tool to ensure quality of cheese.

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