The investigation was performed in 2004 between January and March and was planned in cross sectional and descriptive form. 20 street markets and 50 white cheese merchants were chosen in the district of Üsküdar in İstanbul. Specimens were taken from each stand and from each open product. Three series of specimens weighing 250 g each were collected. The total aerobic mesophilic bacterial count and fungi count were performed. Coagulase (+) staphylococci, total coliform bacteria, E.coli, Salmonella spp, L. monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens were also analyzed. Coliform bacteria were encountered in 96%, E.coli in 86%, S.aureus in 66%, C.perfringens in 52% of the specimens. Molds and yeasts were present in all specimens. Salmonella spp and L.monocytogenes were not present.

The work rules and marketing conformity were also applied to all stands. The data were collected within two months and evaluated and analyzed with SPSS 11.5 program.

As result the white cheese sold on street markets was highly contaminated at health threatening level and were not conform to food regulations. The chain from the producer to the consumer had to be aware about the danger of non packed food sold on street markets.