Detecção de fraudes em leite cru refrigerado na região do Alto Sertão Sergipano

Abstract

In Brazil, the milk production chain is one of the main agricultural economic activities that generates employment and income. In the state of Sergipe, mainly in the Alto Sertão Sergipano region, it is characterized as one of the main sources of income for family farmers. Milk is a food with high nutritional value that is increasingly present in the diet of Brazilians, both fresh and processed. Therefore, the quality of milk in relation to fraud is an extremely important requirement for both the industry, the consumer and consequently for those who produce it. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of refrigerated raw milk from different locations in the Alto Sertão Sergipano (Monte Alegre, Poço Redondo, Santa Rosa do Ermírio (two routes), Capim Grosso and Porto da Folha (towns Lagoa do Rancho and Linda França), regarding fraud detection. The samples were transported in isothermal tank trucks and sent to the physical-chemical analysis laboratory of a medium-sized dairy in Nossa Senhora da Glória-SE, where they were carried out daily, from August 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023, the following analyzes: cryoscopy, density, reconstituents (chloride, starch and sucrose), neutralizer (sodium hydroxide), preservatives (hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde and chlorine) and antibiotic residues (betalactams, tetracyclines, quinolones and sulfonamides). During the 123 days of this study, all milk samples analyzed were in compliance with legislation regarding preservatives, reconstituents, neutralizers and density. However, for the cryoscopic index analyses, 82 of the 2,583 samples showed non-compliance, indicating possible addition of water and/or changes resulting from some factors related to the animal. In the antibiotic analysis, five samples presented unsatisfactory results, testing positive for beta-lactams. It was possible to attest to the quality of the milk during the period studied in terms of density and absence of preservatives, reconstituents and neutralizers. However, a small proportion of producers still sold milk with antibiotic residue. It is noted that producer awareness measures can be effective and in this case, this intervention will be necessary for these producers in order to improve the quality of the raw material. Measures such as valuing the price of milk based on quality can drive this improvement.