Evaluation of herbicide migration from water to gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses in industrial processing

The possibility of migration of atrazine, simazine, terbuthylazine, molinate and bentazon herbicides from contaminated water used in the manufacture of gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses was verified in an industrial plant in an agricultural area in northern Italy. In a milk-processing plant, water samples were drawn from five wells; samples of milk, curd and finished products were collected from the respective production lines. In all samples, the herbicide residues were detected by gas chromatographic analysis. The results show that herbicide residues detected in water were not found in the finished products even if residues were found in the intermediate products (curd).