Avaliação de indicadores de higiene de queijos Minas Frescal não inspecionados comercializados em feiras livres do município de Uberlandia, MG

Abstract

Minas Frescal cheese is one of the most widely consumed dairy products in Brazil. Due to its highly perishable nature, resulting from its high moisture content and the absence of a ripening stage, this product is particularly susceptible to the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms, especially when produced and marketed without sanitary inspection. In this context, inadequate hygienic and sanitary conditions during production, storage, and refrigeration may compromise its microbiological quality and pose a risk to consumers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of uninspected Minas Frescal cheese commercialized at open-air markets in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 25 cheese samples were analyzed for aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), total coliforms at 35 °C (C35), and thermotolerant coliforms at 45 °C (C45). The results were compared with data obtained from a previous study conducted in the same municipality between 2018 and 2020. Compared with the previous period, a significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in C45 counts, with the mean decreasing from 4.35 to 1.88 Log₁₀ MPN/g. However, AMB counts averaged 6.48 Log₁₀ CFU/g, with no significant difference compared with the previous study (P > 0.05). Additionally, 18 (72%) samples showed C35 counts above 3.04 Log₁₀ MPN/g, suggesting unsatisfactory hygienic and sanitary conditions during production and commercialization. Considerable variability in microbiological quality was also observed among cheeses sold by different vendors, indicating a lack of standardization in production and commercialization practices. Furthermore, samples collected on Mondays exhibited mean AMB counts 1.44 Log₁₀ CFU/g higher than those collected on Thursdays (P < 0.05). In conclusion, despite the improvement observed in C45 counts, the evaluated cheeses still presented unsatisfactory microbiological quality, characterized by high AMB and C35 counts and marked variability among the analyzed samples. These findings highlight the need to strengthen good manufacturing practices, microbiological monitoring, and the integration of producers into official inspection services to ensure consumer safety.