ABSTRACT
Considering the social and economic importance of "queijo de coalho", a typical cheese very popular in the brazilian northwest, associated with the risk produced by its consumption, the aim of this study was to survey the occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella sp. and microorganisms fecal coliform. The cheeses were examined as recommended in official methodologies from the Coordenação Geral de Laboratório Animal (CGLA) of the Ministerio da Agricultura Pecuaria e Abastecimento (MAPA). In 127 samples of "queijo de coalho" produced and commercialized in the state of Pernambuco that were analyzed, 9.5% of them were positive for Listeria sp., 5.5% positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and 5.5% for Salmonella sp. In relation to coliforms counting, 44.1% of the samples were found to have more than 500 UFC/ g, and 44.1% of samples were found to be outside the standards for heart-resistant coliforms according to the RDC 12 MS. The results demonstrate that Salmonella sp. and Listeriamonocytogenes, associated with the high prevalence of coliforms, are indicates of improper hygienic and sanitary conditions that may allow for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in this kind of cheese.
KEY WORDS
Cheese;
Listeria monocytogenes
; Salmonella sp.; hygiene indicators