Evaluation of microbiological quality of this butter sold in the city of Mossoró, RN, Brazil

Abstract

The clarified butter is a dairy handmade or manufactured product. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the microbiological quality of this product in these two types of production. Twenty samples were collected randomly in the city of Mossoró-Rio Grande do Norte State, with 10 handmade brands and 10 manufactured. It was carried out counts to determine the most probable number (MPN) of total coliforms and thermotolerants, aerobic mesophyllous microorganisms and Staphylococcus aureus. Two samples from handmade products had high counts of S. aureus 4.2 x10 and 6x102 CFU / mL. This microorganism was not detected in manufactured brands. For the mesophyllous aerobes counts, six samples (30%) were positive, and among these, four handmade (20%), and two manufactured products (10%). Results of MPN of total coliform of 10% of the samples, both manufactured, showed numbers above the standards. MPN of thermotolerant coliforms, showed that all samples analyzed were according to the standards allowed by law. To conclude, clarified butter sold in Mossoró-RN, presented low microbiological quality, which presents risks to public health. Keywords: Microorganisms, standards, public health.