Research – Microbiological safety and quality of Italian donkey milk

Practical applications

Donkey’s milk is considered a “pharmafood” due to its nutritional, nutraceutical, and functional properties. Indeed, it has been configured as a valid alternative foodstuff for children affected by cow’s milk protein allergy, atopic, and inflammatory diseases due to its distinct chemical composition and consequently particular nutritional properties. However, undesirable pathogens responsible for food-borne diseases harmful to humans have been detected. High hygiene standards should be followed along raw milk chain to avoid potential hazardous pathogenic bacteria spreading to consumers and microbiological parameters and criteria need to be established in raw donkey milk for human consumption. Specific sanitary control plans are required for authorized dairy donkey farms.