Qualidade de méis comercializados nas feiras-livres e mercados públicos da cidade do Recife, PE

Abstract

In this work the purpose was to investigate the quality of honey marketed in popular markets of the City of Recife, Pernambuco. On total, 55 honey samples were submitted to carbon isotopic evaluation, microbiological and physicochemical tests, for, respectively, detect adulteration with corn sugar and cane sugar; identify coliforms 35°C and 45°C, mold and yeasts; and determine indexes of moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural, ash, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, water insoluble solids, diastase activity and acidity. The results revealed that 31 (56,36%) samples were adulterated with sugars, 46 (83,64%) honeys were contaminated with molds and yeasts and 53 (96,36%) indicated physicochemical parameters unconforming with the Technical Regulation of Identity and Quality of Honey. Pure and adulterated honeys with C4 source, contaminated by fungi and / or physicochemically compromised, are marketed at the popular markets, in City of the Recife. Its ingestion may harm the consumer by risk acquire products unfit for consumption, with nutritional depreciation and microbial contamination.