Abstract

OLIVEIRA, D.F.; BRAVO, C.E.C.  and  TONIAL, I.B.. Seasonality as an interfering factor on the chemical composition and microbiological quality of colonial cheeses. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2012, vol.64, n.2, pp. 521-523. ISSN 0102-0935.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-09352012000200040.

The influence of seasonality on chemical composition of cheese produced during different seasons, was verified as well as their microbiological quality. A total of 32 samples of colonial cheeses produced in the southwestern Paraná were analyzed. Although the study could be thoroughly not completed, the chemical results showed significant variations (p <0.05) among the cheeses produced during the spring and summer seasons. The microbiological results indicated that 50%, 100% and 12.5% of the samples were contaminated with fecal coliforms, Staphylococcus coagulase positive and Salmonella spp., so at odds with the microbiological standards established by the legislation.

Keywords : colonial cheese; Seasonality; physical-chemical analysis; microbiological analysis.