Resumen

VASQUEZ, Nubia; DURAN, Luís; SANCHEZ, Cecilia  y  ACEVEDO, Iria. Physicochemical and microbiological quality evaluation of white cheese to level of dealers, Lara State, Venezuela. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.3, pp.217-223. ISSN 0798-7269.

In order to evaluate physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of artisanal cheese, at Lara State of Venezuela, samples from six randomly selected distributors, (54.6% of total existing distributors) were taken. Samples of 500 g were taken by triplicate from each dealer according to what is established by the Venezuelan COVENIN 938- (83) norm. Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics evaluated were: moisture, pH, water activity-aw and aerobic mesophilic, total and fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) determined by Petri film method, respectively. These cheeses showed great variability in their physicochemical composition with humidity among 36.99% - 46.37%, which can classified them as hard cheese (HMSG <50%) COVENIN 1813-2000, pH among 5.5 ± 0, 24 and 5.8 ± 0.23 and high aw among 0.92 and 0.94 (values that favor the development of microorganisms). The microbiological quality was poor as evidenced by the elevated aerobic mesophilic quantification (302 x 105-28 x 105 CFU /g), total coliforms (104-102 CFU / g), fecal (460 x 103 - <101 CFU / g), E. coli (1.3 x 104 to 40 CFU / g), and S. aureus (119 x 102 -> 10 CFU / g), whose values do not meet standards set by COVENIN-3821-2003. It is important to say that the quality of cheese from Lara State distributors based on their physicochemical and microbiological characteristics is poor and may pose a risk to consumer health

Palabras clave : hygienic- sanitary conditions; useful life; cheese.

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