Abstract
Agroecological production represents a new reality in vegetable farming. Thus, the study aimed to search for the presence of pesticides in agroecological samples and microbiological and parasitological contamination in Lactuca sativa L. of agroecological and conventional fairs in Alagoas. Thirty-two samples were collected, a hygienic-sanitary checklist was performed, along with coliform, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus research and Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) for pesticide research; using two methodologies for parasitological studies. Thirty-two samples were analyzed, with a sanitary adequacy level at 45% and 38% for fairs (agroecological and conventional) respectively, with three samples (9.4%) in total, being adequate to the microbiological pattern according to RDC no. 12/2001. Among the 23 samples which were tested positive for parasites, 69.5% originated from samples extracted at conventional fairs, and 53% of every positive samples presented Entamoeba coli as the main contaminant. All together, no traces of deltamethrin were detected, but in two of the samples a peak retention for diphenoconazole was detected. In conclusion, the fairs represent an adequate environment for human pathogens and indicators. Therefore greater hygiene training of vegetable traders and consumers in the state of Alagoas is required, especially in conventional fairs, which presented more critical microbiological and parasitological indexes comparing to fairs with agroecological products; however, the presence of difenoconazole in two samples of agricultural fairs suggests accidental contamination or indiscriminate use of this chemical in the production of Lactuca sativa, however, products with agroecological origin represents a better choice for the consumers.
Highlights
Lactuca sativa L., culturally called garden lettuce is the vegetable of the Asteraceae Family with the highest consumption in the world
We considered sample units L. sativa from organic cultivation in agroecological fairs, and conventional cultivation for traditional fairs, where all samples were sent for laboratory analysis in conjunction with the in loco collection the application of an observational checklist of the trading environment, according to RDC no. 275 (Brasil, 2001)
Revealing a much larger concern by the merchants from the agroecological fairs to keep the hygiene of the environment as well as the food served to the population but the results are still below the ones accepted by ANVISA’s RDC n° 275/2002
Summary
Lactuca sativa L., culturally called garden lettuce is the vegetable of the Asteraceae Family with the highest consumption in the world. With the constant search of the world for healthy foods, free of pesticides, arises in Brazil in various crops and products, the growth of food and agroecological fairs, having among the most commercialized vegetables in these environments L. sativa organic (Gazolla et al, 2017). It is necessary according to Brasil (2001) and ICMSF (2011) the correct analysis of the microbiological profile, through the research of bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family, such as total and thermotolerant coliforms, since they are considered hygienic sanitary indicators, as well as the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., due to the fact that they are major causes of pathologies, such as intestinal infections, which in some cases lead to diarrhea and acute dehydration. The work focused on evaluating the presence of deltamethrin and difenoconazole in the vegetables of the agricultural and ecological fairs and evaluating the L. sativa commercialized in agricultural and conventional fairs, through indicators and microbial pathogens and parasites of clinical and sanitary importance, as well as to evaluate the integrity of the vegetable marketing environment in the hygienic-sanitary and environmental vision
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