Microbial quality of honey mixture with pollen

The aim of this study was evaluation of microbial quality in raw materials (honey, pollen) and evaluation of microbial quality in honey mixture with pollen (2.91 % and 3.85 %) and also dynamics of microbial groups in honey mixtures with pollen after 14 days storage at the room temperature (approximately 25 deg C) and in cold store (8 deg C). We used dilution plating method for testing of samples. Detections of total plate microbial count (aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms), sporulating bacteria, coliform bacteria, Bifidobacterium sp., Lactobacillus sp. and microscopic fungi were performed. In general, counts of microorganisms decreased in honey mixture with pollen compared to raw pollen and these counts increased compared to natural honey. Total plate count was 5.37 log KTJ per g in pollen; 1.36 log KTJ per g in honey; 2.97 log KTJ per g in honey mixture with 2.91 % pollen and 2.04 log KTJ per g in honey mixture with 3.85 % pollen. Coliform bacteria were detected in pollen (1.77 log KTJ per g). Then, we found coliform bacteria in one sample of honey mixtures with pollen (2.91 %) – 1.00 log KTJ per g. Bifidobacterium species were detected only in raw pollen. We did not find Lactobacillus sp. in any of the samples. Microscopic fungi were detected on two cultivating media. Yeasts were present in pollen sample (average 5.39 log KTJ per g), honey mixture with 2.91 % pollen (average 2.51 log KTJ per g) and honey mixture with 3.85 % pollen (average 1.58 log KTJ per g). Filamentous microscopic fungi were detectable in pollen (average 3.38 log KTJ per g), in honey (only on one medium: 1.00 log KTJ per g), in honey mixture with 2.91 % pollen (average 1.15 log KTJ per g) and in honey mixture with 3.85 % pollen (1.71 %). Raw pollen contained microscopic fungi as Absidia sp., Mucor sp., Alternaria sp. and Emericella nidulans. Honey mixture with 2.91 % pollen after storage (14 days) contained lower microbial counts when compared with the sample analyzed at the beginning, beside sporulating bacteria and filamentous microscopic fungi in sample stored at 8 deg C. We recorded growth of anaerobic microorganisms in honey mixture with 3.85 % pollen after storage (8 deg C, 25 deg C / 14 days).