Avaliação da qualidade da carne-de-sol produzida artesanalmente

Abstract

This research aimed at evaluating the quality parameters of the artisanal sun-dried meat (carne-de-sol) produced and commercialized in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Eighty sun-dried meat samples were collected, being 44 from open-markets and public markets, and 36 from supermarkets or specialized stores in five cities of Rio Grande do Norte. The samples were analyzed on physicochemical (pH, water activity, moisture and ash) and microbiological (Salmonella spp., thermotolerant coliforms, halophilic bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus) analyses; and S. aureus strains were assayed on antibiotics sensitivity test (AST). A total of 96.25 % of samples showed S. aureus (μ = 4,81LogUFC/g, in 78.75 % of samples), Salmonella spp. (in 25 % of samples), and fecal coliform (μ = 2,36LogMPN/g, in 63.75 % of samples) countings higher than those allowed by Brazilian legislation. As for the AST, 22.5 % of S. aureus strains were resistant to gentamicin; and for penicillin G, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, the strains were 100 %, 67.5 % and 46.26 % resistant, respectively. In physicochemical analyzes, pH (μ = 5,702) and Wa (μ = 0.868) did not constitute the effective barriers against microbial growth. Therefore, the sun-dried meat produced and commercialized in the study area was unsuitable for human consumption according to the Brazilian legislation.