Caracterização físico-química em leite informal comercializado no Município de Itumbiara-GO

Abstract

The present work aimed to characterize the informal milk commercialized in the Municipality of Itumbiara-GO regarding its physical-chemical analysis and raising the actions of the Sanitary Surveillance (VISA) against the informal milk trade. According to Brazilian legislation, products of animal origin such as milk must be inspected by the government health agency before being taken for consumption. Clandestine trade in raw milk, which is unmonitored, represents an important public health issue because of the risks it may pose to consumer health. In many Brazilian municipalities, although banned since the 1950s, the illegal milk trade is still carried out in a very intense way and in very precarious conditions of hygiene and conservation, which makes it common to find acidity reducers, preservatives and other wastes in milk. According to the Regulation of Industrial and Sanitary Inspection of Products of Animal Origin (RIISPOA) is prohibited the use of chemical substances in the conservation of milk and the addition of these substances is considered fraud. We found in our research the sale of raw milk directly to the consumer in five districts of the periphery of the Municipality of Itumbiara. Two samples of these milks were analyzed in three different periods for physicochemical characterization and the general conditions of sale were evaluated. The products presented high acidity that may be associated with lack of refrigeration and lack of hygiene quality standards. It is possible to conclude that the sale of informal milk has quality compromised by lack of inspection, refrigeration and hygiene, being a product of illegal commercialization. It is necessary for the supervisory bodies to act again in the fight against this type of trade so that this problem can be completely solved. Although there has been a large decrease, the practice of selling milk without passing a sanitary inspection has not been completely extinguished, and this work serves as a warning to consumers and enforcement agents for its resolution.