Donkey milk research · Study 193

Italian donkey milk: microbiological quality and safety

An Italian team tested donkey milk against seven microbiological criteria. The total bacterial count met EU requirements; Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Cronobacter sakazakii were not detected. E. coli O157 and Campylobacter coli were found – the abstract does not say in how many samples.

Important: A milk analysis from Italy, assessed based on the abstract. It describes findings in the samples examined at the time and applies neither to donkey milk in general nor to the milk from our partner farms. Number of samples, farms and frequency of detections are not stated.

At a glance · tap the cards

The key figures

Study design

How it was studied

Microbiological milk analysis by an Italian team, published in the Journal of Food Safety. Donkey milk from Italy was examined. Total viable count and coagulase-positive staphylococci were determined as process hygiene criteria, and Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, E. coli O157 and Campylobacter spp. as food safety criteria. Assessed based on the abstract; number of samples and farms, sampling, period, detection methods and frequency of positive findings are not stated there. The authors’ institutions are not listed in the metadata.

Laboratory study

Study typeMilk analysis (microbiology)CountryItalyYear2018JournalJ Food Saf

Results

What the study measured

According to the authors, the total viable count of the donkey milk examined met European requirements.

Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Cronobacter sakazakii were not detected.

E. coli O157 and Campylobacter coli were detected. The abstract states neither the number of positive samples nor the farms.

The authors consider this a relevant food safety issue and recommend a control plan with intensive, continuous monitoring.

In the practical section, they call for high hygiene standards along the entire raw milk chain, specific microbiological criteria for raw donkey milk and specific control plans for authorised dairy donkey farms.

Authors’ conclusion: The total viable count met EU requirements, but the detection of E. coli O157 and Campylobacter coli shows that an adequate control plan with continuous monitoring is needed. The study describes findings in the samples examined; how often such pathogens occur in donkey milk in general cannot be derived from it.

Critical appraisal

Strengths and limitations

Number of samples and frequency unknownClear limitation

The abstract states neither the number of samples nor how often the pathogens were found. A frequency therefore cannot be given.

Farms and period unclearNote

The regions and farms the milk came from and when it was sampled are not stated. Findings apply only to these samples.

Evaluative practical sectionNote

The practical section calls donkey milk a “pharmafood”. This classification has no connection to the measurements and is not adopted by us.

Only the abstract assessedNote

Detection methods, limits and individual results are unknown without the full text; funding and conflicts of interest could not be checked.

Testing against EU criteriaStrength

The study follows process hygiene and food safety criteria and thus provides practical pointers for farms’ own checks.

clear limitationnotestrength

Editorial note: The paper shows what dairy donkey farms should test raw milk for regularly and gives a mixed picture: good total counts, four pathogens not detected, two others detected. Without sample numbers, it remains unclear how frequent these findings were. For producers it is mainly an argument for consistent hygiene and regular batch analyses. To the research archive.

Research question for DON DONKEY’S®

What results do regular batch tests of our frozen donkey milk for total viable count, E. coli O157 and Campylobacter deliver over a whole year – and how transparently can they be published?

Milk analysisMicrobiologyFood safety

Original publication

Microbiological safety and quality of Italian donkey milk

Original title: Microbiological safety and quality of Italian donkey milk

Mottola A., Alberghini L., Giaccone V., Marchetti P., Tantillo G., Di Pinto A.
Journal of Food Safety · 2018 · 38(3), e12444

Research group in Italy; institutions not stated in the metadata

DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12444

Transparency: funding and conflicts of interest could not be checked from the abstract. No product-related statement for DON DONKEY’S®.

Summarised and checked by the DON DONKEY’S editorial team against the original publication · As of: November 2026

End of the study summary

Note on our products

The study summarised above was carried out independently of DON DONKEY’S® and does not relate to our products. It serves solely to inform about the state of research.

DON DONKEY’S® donkey milk and donkey milk powder are foods. They are not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease and do not replace medical advice.

From our shop

DON DONKEY’S® donkey milk

100 % donkey milk · raw milk, frozen

On this page we report the findings of a published study. Independently of that, you will find our donkey milk here: 100 % donkey milk, frozen as raw milk.

Transparency: The study examined milk from another herd – not the milk from our partner farms.

€24,90

100 ml bottle / 100ml · Unit price: €249,00 / 1 l · incl. VAT, plus shipping

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Also in our shop

Donkey Milk Powder

Donkey milk in powder form

For anyone who prefers a longer shelf life: our donkey milk in powder form – easy to store and portion.

Transparency: The study did not examine our donkey milk powder.