Hygienic-sanitary quality in milk and cheese sold clandestinely in the municipality of Sinop - Mato Grosso, Brazil

Dairy products such as raw milk and artisanal cheeses are marketed in open markets and directly at home throughout Brazil, even with prohibitions in Brazilian legislation, leading in many cases to the production of food without hygienic conditions that can be configured as an important source transmission of pathogens and, consequently, a danger to public health. Escherichia coli is an agent of intestinal origin and, in addition to some strains possess pathogenic potential, its presence in the food indicates inadequate hygienic practices. This study aimed to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary quality of these products to determine if they are suitable for human consumption. Eight samples of milk and eight cheese sold clandestinely in the municipality of Sinop in the State of Mato Grosso were analyzed. All of them were submitted to the Most Likely Number Test (NMP) for the detection of Total and Thermotolerant Coliforms, isolation in Methylene Blue Eosin Agar (EMB) and identification of Escherichia coli by means of biochemical tests. Among the 8 milk samples, 62.5% (5/8) presented levels of Thermotolerant Coliform than allowed by the legislation and 87.5% (7/8) above the levels allowed for Total Coliforms. Among the 8 cheese samples, 50% (4/8) presented values higher than that allowed for Thermotolerant Coliforms and 87.5% (7/8) for Total Coliforms. Of the 80 colonies initially isolated from raw milk and cheese samples, 56.25% (45/80) presented Escherichia coli characteristics. The great majority of the analyzed samples demonstrate a low hygienic-sanitary quality being considered possible sources of pathogens to the consuming population.