Microbiological analysis of milk unfermented kefir produced with milk contaminated by Escherichia coli

Abstract

<p><em>The fermented milk by kefir grains is a probiotic dairy product that provides to the consumer several health benefits, and can also be consumed by lactose intolerant people. These grains contain in their microbiota acid-lactic bacteria able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. This research aimed to evaluate the </em>Escherichia coli<em> inhibition by the kefir fermentation, contaminated during its manufacturing. Thus, were used the standard strain ATCC 11229 </em>E. coli<em>, inoculated in the milk for the kefir production. After the fermentation, the sample were diluted in peptone water and plated in Petrifilm, followed by incubation at 36 °C for 24 hours. In all repetitions, were observed at the end that the kefir fermentation did not inhibit the multiplication of the contaminant bacteria. The results reinforce the importance of the use of milk with quality, and to follow the hygiene proceedings in both utensils and manipulators, during the kefir production.</em></p><p>DOI: 10.14685/rebrapa.v5i1.158</p><p> </p><p> </p>