There were submitted to fecal coliforms enumeration, according to the most probable number (MPN/g) method, 168 samples of "Minas" cheese varieties (20 white, 48 "canastra" and 199 standardized), collected in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In order to comparing different assays under high temperature, there was used EC broth isolated, and EC broth and tryptophane broth in parallel. With the aim of indol search, it was carried out an assay for beta-D-glucuronidase in indol production in fluorocult lauryl sulphate broth. The results did not show significant statistical difference among the three approaches used for fecal coliforms research, considering the acceptance indexes established by legal standards for "Minas" cheese inspection. The feasibility for beta-D-glucuronidase assay in fluorocult lauryl sulphate broth, coupled with results’ confidence and time required (reduction from 96 to up to 48h), suggest it as a preference method for fecal coliforms enumeration in "Minas" cheese.
Minas cheese; fecal coliforms; Escherichia coli
