The occurrence of coliform organisms in pasteurized milk indicates which of the following?

• A. Fecal contamination
• B. Post-pasteurization contamination
• C. Likelihood of other pathogens
• D. Product unfit for human consumption

Answer: (A)

Coliform bacteria are used as indicators of fecal contamination because they originate in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals and are commonly present in feces. In pasteurized milk, these organisms should be absent; their appearance signals that fecal material has entered the product at some point in the process. This points to a sanitation breach somewhere along the milk supply or handling chain—before pasteurization, during milking, or in equipment and premises that contact the milk—where fecal contamination could have occurred. The presence of coliforms thus indicates a sanitation problem that could allow other harmful pathogens to be present, so it triggers a need for investigation and corrective actions to prevent unsafe product from reaching consumers.