The incidence, number and fermentative types of enterococci in milk powder were examined in 532 samples collected from six dairy plants of five districts in Japan (Hokkaido, Northern Honshu, Central Honshu, Western Honshu and Shikoku). These tests were conducted from May 1962 to May 1963, in May 1964 and from April to May 1966.
The positive rate of enterococci was found to be constant for each plant all the three times.
In most of the samples examined the number of enterococci was less than 1,000 per g.
The fermentative types of enterococci varied in three experiments, however, the main and most constant type was subtype No. 5 of Str. Jaecium.
From these results, it was presumed that the bacteriological quality of dairy products manufactured in recent years in Japan had not changed.