Safety and Nutritional Profile of Traditional Turkish Cheeses: A Comprehensive Study on Their Mineral Content, Heavy Metal Contamination, and Health Risks of Aho, Golot, and Telli

Traditional cheeses from Turkey's Black Sea region, such as Aho, Golot, and Telli, are widely known for their unique flavors and artisanal production methods. However, their microbiological safety, mineral content, and heavy metal contamination remain understudied. In this study, we evaluated 30 cheese samples for essential minerals and toxic heavy metals, alongside conducting a corresponding health risk assessment. The results of our mineral analysis revealed sodium (Na) levels ranging from 9787.79 to 37,902.22 mg/kg, while calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were present at nutritionally relevant concentrations. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) were detected, with Golot and Telli cheeses showing elevated levels (Pb: up to 1788.75 μg/kg; Hg: up to 468.71 μg/kg). Furthermore, health risk assessments, including estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI), indicated that 93.3% of samples posed negligible risks (HI < 1), though two outliers (6.7%) exceeded safety thresholds. Taken together, these findings underscore the need for improved production processes in traditional cheese production while affirming their nutritional value and overall safety for consumers.