Caracterização físico-química e qualidade microbiológica de amostras de mel de abelhas sem ferrão (Apidae, Meliponinae) do Estado da Bahia, com ênfase em Melipona Illiger, 1806 / Physico-chemical characterization and microbiological quality of stingless bees (Apidae, Meliponinae) honey samples from the State of Bahia, Brazil, with emphasis on Melipona Illiger, 1806

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

The stingless bees honey is a product presenting a growing market demand but, in spite of its consumption as food and even medicinal use, there are few studies to define quality standards for its commercialization. This work was carried out to determine the physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality of honey samples produced by meliponid species from Bahia State, Brazil, contributing to the establishment of quality control standards of this product. Forty-seven samples collected from December 2004 to May 2006 were analyzed, being determined their physico-chemical characteristics and microbiological quality, regarding to the standard counting of moulds and yeasts, and presence of microorganisms of the coliform group. Concerning the physico-chemical characteristics, the obtained medium values, excepting moisture content, fulfill the quality criteria established by the current Brazilian Legislation. Considering the number of samples individually disqualified, adjustments in reducing sugars limits should be made for best attend to the requirements of meliponid honey, as well as the use of the diastasic activity in the Melipona honeys as quality criterion. In the microbiologic analyses, 53.2% of the honey samples presented standard counting for moulds and yeasts above the maximum value allowed by the Brazilian Legislation. For microorganisms of the coliform group only one sample was positive for coliform at 35ºC. The presence of these microorganisms, mainly moulds and yeasts, even in samples aseptically harvested indicates the need of identification of this microbiota and its possible natural occurrence in the honey produced by this group of bees.

ASSUNTO(S)

meliponiculture moulds and yeasts microbiologia de alimentos physico-chemical characteristics. quality control honey quality mel - propriedades físico-químicas controle de qualidade coliform group

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