Associação entre as condições higiênico-sanitárias de indústrias de laticínios e o nível de adequação na implementação de programas de autocontrole

Abstract

Foodborne illnesses are the most serious public health issues in the world. Milk and its derivatives are often involved in outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. Recently, the Brazilian government has made several efforts at preventing these diseases, among them, the approval of several standards related to the implementation of quality programs in dairy products. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the association between the level of implementation of self-control programs and hygienic-sanitary conditions in dairy industries. Fifteen dairy industries, located in the south of the state of Minas Gerais and registered in the federal inspection service (FIS) were evaluated. A checklist was developed to obtain observational data concomitant to the performance of microbiological analyses of Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus and aerobic mesophil counts from the handlers and process tables, as well as the analysis of filamentous fungi and yeasts in industrial environments. All establishments were classified by applying the checklist as “bad” or “extremely bad” according to established criteria. The industries were also evaluated separately for each control element obtaining different classifications among the best, good, regular, bad, and extremely bad. The mesophilic aerobic counts of the manipulators' hands indicated that 82% of the results were in disagreement with the established criteria of a maximum of 100 CFU (Colony-forming Unit) on hands, and for the tables 86.7% of the values weren’t confirmed. For Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus the percentage of inadequate results was 90% for hands and tables, considering as the limit the absence of the pathogen. In the environments, 98.33% of the results were inadequate, with counts higher than 30 CFU.cm per week for filamentous fungi and yeasts. By comparing averages and regression analysis, it was possible to conclude that the higher the adaptations with regard to the implementation of self-control programs(SCP), as well as SCP 8 (Cleaning and sanitation), SCP 9 (Hygiene, hygienic habits and workers’ health) and SCP 10 (Sanitary procedures of operations), lower the microbiological counts on hands, tables and in the environments. The chi-squared test, with some exceptions, showed that companies with higher percentages of self-control programs implantation tended to obtain more satisfactory results for the counts of mesophilic aerobic and Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus on hands and tables. The results showed that the industries evaluated in this study have serious deficiencies in their self-control programs, which may compromise the safety of finished products since there is no efficient and effective quality management.