MICROBIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF FRUIT PULPS PRODUCED AND COMMERCIALIZED IN CEARA AND RIO GRANDE DO NORTE STATES (BRAZIL)

Abstract

The present paper is part of a project that is being carried out by EMBRAPA/CNPAT, whose proposal is to generate data for establishing Identity and Quality Standards (Q.I.S.) for frozen tropical fruit pulps. At the first phase, only acerola, yellow mombin and cashew pulps are being evaluated. Samples collected in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte States (Brazil) were submitted to mesophilic aerobic bacterias, mold and yeast counts. Determination of Salmonella bacteria and the Most Probable Number (MPN) of total and fecal coliforms were carried out as well. It was found that, as for as sanitary conditions, most of the samples from Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte States showed poor conditions; thus needing the application of effective methods of cleaning and sanitation throughout the production plant in order to offer microbiological acceptable products.