Avaliação do perfil microbiológico e microscópico do caldo de cana in natura comercializado por ambulantes

Sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) is a raw plant, basically consisted of fibers and juice. The juice, also known as ‘garapa’ in Portuguese, is a cheap, refreshing and energetic beverage that is quite popular in Brazil. The present study aimed at evaluating the microbiological and microscopic quality, and the hygienic conditions of handling procedures for the fresh sugar-cane juice sold by street vendors in Ribeirao Preto/Brazil. Ninety fresh sugar-cane samples were collected during the period between May 2007 and January 2008. Salmonella spp. isolation, coliform counts at 35oC and 45oC, and yeast and mold counts were performed, and the occurrence of extraneous foreign matters was investigated. Among the 90 analyzed samples, 31.0% showed coliforms at 45oC above 2 (logMPN/mL), and no Salmonella spp. was isolated from any sample. On microscopy analyses, 32.2% of samples did not comply with the current legislation due to the presence of insect fragments and whole insects consisted of the following orders Hymenoptera (bees and ants), Diptera (house flies, blowflies and drosophilas) and Arachnida (spiders). The hygienic-sanitary inadequacy in producing sugar-cane juice could be evidenced, thus, it might be inferred the need for establishing specific food-handlers training programs.