This study was undertaken to determine the microbiological and chemical quality of ayran sold as packaged or nonpackaged in Elazığ.

A total of 100 ayran samples (50 packaged, 50 nonpackaged) were analyzed. In nonpackaged ayran samples, average numbers of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria were 8.02 log₁₀ cfu/ml, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus 2.01 log₁₀ cfu/ml, yeast-mold were 5.52 log₁₀ cfu/ml and numbers of coliform bacteria were determined as 5.08x10² EMS/ml. In packaged samples, numbers of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus –Micrococcus, numbers of coliform bacteria and yeast-mold were 7.03 log₁₀ cfu/ml, 2.50 log₁₀ cfu/ml, 3.76 log₁₀ cfu/ml and 5.01x10¹ EMS/ml respectively. It was found that 88 %of nonpackaged samples and 18 %of packaged samples contained coliform bacteria greater than 1.0 x 10¹ EMS/ml. In addition, numbers of yeast - mold were grater than 1.0x10³ cfu/ml in nonpackaged ayran samples where as they were lower than 1.0x10¹ cfu/ml in 28 %and higher than 1.0x10³ cfu/ml in packaged samples. pH, acidity (la), fat, dry-substance, and salt levels in nonpackaged ayran were found as 3.74, 0.99%, 1.39%, 5.66%and 0.86%, respectively. The corresponding values for packaged samples were, 3.91, 0.97%, 1.77%, 7.23%, and 1.04%, respectively. In 2%of the ayran packaged samples, 2119 ppm sorbic acid was determined.

As a result, microbiological and chemical quality of both packaged and nonpackaged ayran samples investigated were not at the desired level. Therefore, nonpackaged ayran type did not have sufficient food safety assurance to protect public health.