Dados do Trabalho

Título

ANALYSIS OF THE MICROBIAL LOAD OF SUGARCANE JUICE COLLECTED IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO

Introdução

Sugarcane juice is a drink consumed on a large scale in Brazil by people of all ages and social classes, especially during the hottest periods of the year. Its composition (high sugar concentration and water activity) favors microbial proliferation. Allied to this, the sugarcane juice production stage is where the greatest risks of contamination of the drink occur, due to poor equipment hygiene, inadequate storage of the sugarcane, or unsuitable handling conditions.

Material e Métodos

Given the above, this study aims to (1) assess the microbiological quality according to current Brazilian legislation, and (2) identify the total bacterial profile of the drink. A total of 29 samples were collected, each from a market in Rio de Janeiro city, in their original packaging. The samples were kept refrigerated until the moment of the microbiological analysis, and the search for microorganisms recommended by IN 161/2022 was conducted, as well as the identification of the total bacterial profile (aerobic mesophilic) by cultivation on blood agar with subsequent identification by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Resultados e Discussão

Of the samples analyzed, 100% (29) showed growth characteristics of E. coli and approximately 41% (12) showed colonies typical of Salmonella sp. Confirmation of the identity of the isolates is being carried out by MALDI-TOF. To date, the presence of E. coli has been confirmed in approximately 21% (6) of the samples collected; Salmonella sp. has not been confirmed. Concerning the total bacterial profile, several species were identified, the most frequent being: Pantoea dispersa, Enterobacter kobei, Enterobacter bugandensis, and Klebsiella variicola.

Conclusão

The data obtained when compared with the legislation indicates that 21% of the samples are unsafe for consumption. However, the total profile data indicates the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria even in samples considered fit for consumption, which indicates a risk to consumer health. Some isolates are still awaiting identification. This work highlights the need for training of handlers, since the vast majority of bacteria identified originate from the gastrointestinal tract, and also serves as a warning to inspection bodies about the need for frequent inspections at points of sale of this drink to comply with legislation.