Avaliação microscópica e pesquisa de sujidades em amostras comerciais de orégano (Origanum vulgare L.), salsa (Petroselinum sativum Hoffim.) e chimichurri.

Condiments and spices are natural vegetable products, marketed alone or in a mixture, whole, fragmented or powdered. Due to their origin in the field and processing form, researches have been demonstrating incidence of soils in these products. Thus, this work aimed evaluates microscopically samples of oregano, parsley and chimichurri marketed in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. The samples were submitted to degreasing and discoloration methods, and then, stereoscopic and optical microscope visualization. Four different samples of each condiment were used: two packaged trade marks, and two commercialized in bulk. In all of them, the presence of light soils, such as hair and insects’ fragments, and heavy soils, such as sand, stones and acrylic, were observed. Regarding the presence of insects and their fragments, all samples were within the limits established by current legislation, however, six samples were classified as in disagreement, because they presented soil with aren’t covered by legislation. In a sample of oregano, it was detected other plant species, characterizing a possible fraud, since its presence wasn’t declared on the label.