Microbiological Assessment of Broiler Compound Feed Production as Part of the Food Chain—A Case Study in a Romanian Feed Mill

Compound feed and the raw materials used in their production are potential vectors of microbiological contamination food chain. The purpose this study was to microbiologically asses (maize, wheat, soybean meal, sunflower meal), broiler compound (starter, grower, finisher) from a representative mill Romania; contaminants that were analyzed yeasts molds, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens. Our occured during years 2019 2020; 2019, 191 samples 360 2020, 143 241 analzyed. Among tested materials, mean values molds for maize, soybean, meal 1.3 × 103, 9.5 102, 6.4 7.4 102 cfu/g 1.5 1.0 5.2 7.1 2020. In samples, amounts starter, finisher 5.9 4.2 5.3 6.5 5.8 Potentially toxigenic fungi Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium genera have been identified as most common all samples. both highest numbers Aspergillus-positive recorded: 66.6% 100% 2020 maize 50% 75% wheat 76% 87.5% 71.4% meal. starter feed, Aspergillus prevailing (46.6%), while species Penicillium Cladosporium majority (50%); grower predominantly (60% 72.2% respectively) (61.5% 46.6%, respectively). All results bacteriological analysis determining with E. perfringens negative. Based on obtained study, monitoring hazards will help control prevent direct impact safety.