Qualidade microbiológica de amostras do queijo coalho comercializado a granel em feiras livres de Satuba e Viçosa no estado de Alagoas

Abstract

This Final Undergraduate Project (TCC) investigated the microbiological quality of samples of curd cheese sold in bulk at the Satuba and Viçosa-Alagoas open-air markets, a food of cultural and economic importance in Brazil. Counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, mold and yeast counts, most probable number of total and thermotolerant coliforms (MPN), and Escherichia coli were performed on six samples collected from two open-air markets. The analyzed curd cheese samplesshowed mesophilic aerobic bacteria counts with averages ranging from 4.77 to 5.8 log10, all results exceeding the limits established by legislation (≤ 5 x 103 CFU g1). The values for molds and yeasts ranged from 4.82 to 5.82 log 10. It was observed that 100% of the samples showed the presence of total and thermotolerant coliforms, all of which were outside the standard established by legislation ≤ 500 MPN/g. There was no confirmation of E. coli in the samples. Given the results, the values did not meet Brazilian legislation for curd cheese, and the analyzed samples presented poor microbiological quality, therefore becoming unfit for human consumption.