Microbiological Quality of Minas Artisanal Cheeses from Certified Properties at Serra da Canastra Region, Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2016

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the conformity of minas artisanal cheese from certified properties of Medeiros city (Serra da Canastra region), from Minas Gerais state (Brazil), along the year of 2016. Most of the samples (approximately 75%) presented permitted levels of pathogens or spoiling agents (coliforms at 30 and 45°C, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus). Results show that there are still improvement to make but also show that the pressure from consumers, as well as from state agencies, for a cheese with better quality are starting to make a difference, since the results here presented are better than the latter results from older and similar studies.