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Microbiological quality and presence of extraneous matter in industrialized tomato sauces

Qualidade microbiológica e presença de matérias estranhas em molhos de tomate industrializados

Abstract

Despite being a staple in the daily diet of the Brazilian population, industrialized tomatoes and their derivatives are often subject to countless contaminants during their production process, which may affect the final quality of these products. This study aimed to investigate the microbiological quality and the presence of extraneous matter in industrialized tomato sauces commercialized in Brazil. To this end, two samples of 21 different “traditional tomato sauce” brands (a total of 42 samples) commercialized in supermarkets in the municipality of Bauru, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed from April to November 2016. Overall, 20 (47.6%) of the 42 samples analyzed were in disagreement with the current Brazilian legislation. After incubation at 35 to 37 °C and 55 °C, no changes in the packages and pH variation >0.2 were observed. However, 9.5% of the samples showed a non-characteristic aspect and 11.9% presented growth of fungi. Regarding the presence of extraneous matter, 11.9% of the samples showed rodent hair above the permitted limit (1 in 100 g) - indicative of risks to human health, whereas 26.2% of them contained non-rodent hair - indicative of failure in adopting good manufacturing practices. Mold filament counting was conducted using the Howard method, and 14.3% of the samples presented values ​​above 40% (acceptable limit) positive microscopic fields. In addition to subsidizing health surveillance actions, such data highlight the need for quality improvement of the raw material used and greater control during the processing of these products.

Keywords:
Tomato sauce; Microbiological analysis; Microscopy; Molds; Extraneous matter; Quality

Resumo

Apesar de estarem amplamente inseridos na alimentação diária da população, frequentemente, tomates industrializados e seus derivados estão expostos a inúmeras contaminações durante o processo de produção, que podem prejudicar a qualidade dos produtos finais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e a presença de matérias estranhas em molhos de tomate industrializados, comercializados no Brasil. Para isso, foram colhidas duas amostras, de diferentes lotes, de 21 marcas distintas do produto (totalizando 42 amostras), do tipo “molho de tomate tradicional”, comercializadas em supermercados do município de Bauru (SP), no período de abril a novembro de 2016. De forma geral, das 42 amostras analisadas, 20 (47,6%) estavam em desacordo com as legislações vigentes. Após a incubação dos molhos a 35-37 °C e 55 °C, não foram observadas alterações das embalagens e variações de pH > 0,2. No entanto, 9,5% das amostras exibiram aspecto não característico do produto e 11,9% apresentaram crescimento de fungos. Quanto à presença de matérias estranhas, 11,9% das amostras apresentaram pelos de roedores acima do valor máximo permitido (1 em 100 g) – indicativos de riscos à saúde humana –, e 26,2% exibiram pelos não característicos de roedores – indicativos de falhas na adoção das boas práticas. Na contagem de fungos filamentosos pelo método de Howard, 14,3% das amostras evidenciaram valores de campos positivos acima de 40% (limite aceitável). Além de subsidiar as ações de Vigilância Sanitária, tais dados evidenciam a necessidade de melhoria na qualidade da matéria-prima empregada e maior controle durante as etapas de processamento dos produtos.

Palavras-chave:
Molho de tomate; Análise microbiológica; Microscopia; Fungos; Matérias estranhas; Qualidade

1 Introduction

The tomato (Lycopersicum sp.) presents wide distribution, and is listed among the produce of greater distribution worldwide. In South America, Brazil leads tomato production for industrial processing, and the largest consumer market for its industrialized derivatives (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2015Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística – IBGE. (2015). Levantamento sistemático da produção agrícola. Retrieved in 2015, February 13, from http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/agropecuaria/Ispa
http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/...
).

Commonly, industrial tomatoes may present physical, chemical and microbiological contamination, including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, at various stages of the production process: (1) in the field, in contact with soil, water and fertilizers; (2) during harvest, with possible mechanical lesions; (3) in transportation, often associated with excessive stacking (with kneading and breaking) and high temperatures; (4) during processing, through equipment contamination; (5) in storage, due to exposure to inappropriate conditions (Reis & Lopes, 2012Reis, A., & Lopes, C. A. (2012). Doenças caudadas por fungos e distúrbios fisiológicos. In F. M. V. T. Clemente & L. S. Boiteux (Eds.), Produção de tomate para processamento industrial (pp. 179-202). Brasília: Embrapa.).

The numerous types of physical contamination related to tomato pests, mainly by mites and insects such as whitefly (Bemisia tabaci, biotype B), triplets (Frankliniella schultzei and Thrips palmi), aphids (Myzus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae), tomato pinworm (Tuta absoluta) and tomato fruit borer (Neoleucinodes elegantalis), are capable of causing changes in the vegetative and/or reproductive development of plants and fruits (Moura et al., 2014Moura, A. P., Michereff Filho, M., Guimarães, J. A., & Liz, R. S. (2014). Manejo integrado de pragas do tomateiro para processamento industrial. Embrapa Hortaliças, 129, 2-6.), and certainly the presence of bacteria (especially of family Enterobacteriaceae) on the tomato surface represents food safety risks, because the fruit may be a source of pathogenic microorganisms (Telias et al., 2011Telias, A., White, J. R., Pahl, D. M., Ottesen, A. R., & Walsh, C. S. (2011). Bacterial community diversity and variation in spray water sources and the tomato fruit surface. BMC Microbiology, 11(1), 81. PMid:21510867. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-11-81
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-11-8...
). In fact, in the past decades, tomatoes have been one of the main products responsible for produce-associated salmonellosis in the United States of America (Gravani, 2009Gravani, R. B. (2009). The role of Good Agricultural Practices in produce safety. In X. Fan, B. A. Niemira, C. J. Doona, F. E. Feeherry & R. B. Gravani (Eds.), Microbial safety of fresh produce (pp. 101-117). Singapore: IFT Press Series. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781444319347.ch5.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781444319347....
).

In Brazil, in order to ensure sanitary control, processed products derived from tomatoes must comply with, among other legislation, Resolution RDC 12 (02/01/2001), which regulates the microbiological standards for food intended to human consumption (Brasil, 2001Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2001, janeiro 10). Aprova o regulamento técnico sobre padrões microbiológicos para alimentos (Resolução RDC nº 12, de 2 de janeiro de 2001). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.), and Resolution RDC 14 (03/28/2014), which provides for the presence and tolerance limits of extraneous matter (any macroscopic and/or microscopic material not constituent of the product) in foods and beverages (Brasil, 2014Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2014, janeiro 31). Dispõe sobre matérias estranhas macroscópicas e microscópicas em alimentos e bebidas, seus limites de tolerância e dá outras providências (Resolução RDC nº 14, de 28 de março de 2014). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.).

Undoubtedly, microbiological analyses and investigations of extraneous matter - such as arthropods and other invertebrates (dead or alive, whole or in parts), parasites, fungi, hard objects, and filth in general – are among the most important parameters to determine the quality of industrial tomatoes, enabling evaluation in terms of processing, storage, distribution for consumption, shelf life, and human health risks (Santos, 2014Santos, G. G. (2014). Qualidade físico-química, microbiológica e ocorrência de micotoxinas de Alternaria alternata em derivados de tomate (Tese de doutorado). Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição Humana, Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília.).

Fungi, especially species of the Fusarium, Alternaria, Stemphylium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Geotrichum, Phytophthora and Botrytis genera, are often the main contaminants of tomato fruits, causing considerable economic losses to producers and industry (Mailafia et al., 2017Mailafia, S., Okoh, G. R., Olabode, H. O. K., & Osanupin, R. (2017). Isolation and identification of fungi associated with spoilt fruits vended in Gwagwalada market, Abuja, Nigeria. Veterinary World, 10(4), 393-397. PMid:28507410. http://dx.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.393-397
http://dx.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017...
), in addition to presenting potential risk to human and animal health, because they may be associated with production of mycotoxins that have hepatotoxic and mutagenic effects (Afsah-Hejri et al., 2013Afsah-Hejri, L., Jinap, S., Hajeb, P., Radu, S., & Shakibazadeh, S. (2013). A review on mycotoxins in food and feed: Malaysia case study. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 12(6), 629-651. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12029
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.1202...
).

Although the fungi can be inactivated in the thermal processing phase during tomato industrialization and, therefore, present negative results in microbiological cultures, their structures (hyphae) remain in the products, indicating that the fruit was contaminated or possible lack of good processing practices. Thus, in practice, mold filament counting by the Howard method is a good quality indicator of the tomatoes used (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2005Association of Official Analytical Chemists – AOAC. (2005).Official methods of analysis of AOAC International. Gaithersburg: APHA.).

Considering that the tomato processing industries require very mature fruits (Centro de Produções Técnicas, 2010Centro de Produções Técnicas – CPT. (2010). Tomate industrial: O Brasil está entre os dez maiores produtores da hortaliça no mundo. Retrieved in 2011, January 20, from http://www.cpt.com.br/artigos/tomate-industrial-o-brasil-esta-entre-os-dez-maioresprodutores-da-hortalica-no-mundo
http://www.cpt.com.br/artigos/tomate-ind...
), that conventional pasteurization processes do not destroy mycotoxins (Murphy et al., 2006Murphy, P. A., Hendrich, S., Landgren, C., & Bryant, C. M. (2006). Food mycotoxins: An update. Journal of Food Science, 71(5), R51-R65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2006.00052.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.20...
), and the possible occurrence of heat-resistant fungi (Salomão et al., 2008Salomão, B. C. M., Massaguer, P. R., & Aragão, G. M. F. (2008). Isolamento e seleção de fungos filamentosos termorresistentes em etapas do processo produtivo de néctar de maçã. Food Science and Technology, 28(1), 116-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-20612008000100017
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-20612008...
), research addressing the quality of the fruits used and the hygiene conditions involved in production becomes even more relevant.

The general objective of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality and the presence of extraneous matter in industrialized tomato sauces commercialized in Brazil.

2 Material and methods

Two samples of 21 different “traditional tomato sauce” industrial brands (a total of 42 samples of different batches), marketed in hermetic packages stable at room temperature, were purchased from supermarkets in the municipality of Bauru, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, from April to November 2016. It is worth noting that the sample unit consisted of five product packages (from the same batch), which were subjected to different analyses.

After collection, the samples were transported at room temperature to the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Bauru Regional Laboratory Center (IAL-CLR Bauru), where the analyses were carried out.

Microbiological and physicochemical analyses included the incubation test of the closed packages, followed by analysis of sensorial characteristics and pH variation. In order to perform the incubation test, three packages were individually wrapped in filter paper; one was incubated at 35-37 °C for 10 days, one was incubated at 55 °C for 5 days, and one remained at room temperature (Brasil, 2001Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2001, janeiro 10). Aprova o regulamento técnico sobre padrões microbiológicos para alimentos (Resolução RDC nº 12, de 2 de janeiro de 2001). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.). After incubation and evaluation of possible changes in packaging, the other analyses were conducted: sensorial analyses were carried out by comparing the samples, observing their appearance, color, scent and texture (Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 2005Instituto Adolfo Lutz – IAL. (2005). Métodos físico-químicos para análise de alimentos. São Paulo: IAL.) and pH measurements were performed using a pH-meter (DIGIMED-DM20).

In addition, in the case of samples with sensorial modifications, artificial color analysis was performed according to the techniques 051/IV and 086/IV, which are based on separation and identification of food color by ascending paper chromatography as described in the 4th edition of the Instituto Adolfo Lutz technical manual - Physical-chemical methods for food analysis (Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 2005Instituto Adolfo Lutz – IAL. (2005). Métodos físico-químicos para análise de alimentos. São Paulo: IAL.).

For investigation of the hygiene conditions of the product, counting of mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic bacteria, molds, and yeasts was performed. These analyses were conducted according to the methodologies recommended by the American Public Health Association (APHA) described in the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods (American Public Health Association, 2015American Public Health Association – APHA. (2015). Compendium of methods for the microbiological examination of foods. Washington: APHA.). Counting of the mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic microorganisms was performed by pour plate method using Plate Count Agar (PCA) at the following incubation conditions: 35 ± 1 °C for 48 h and 55 ± 1 °C for 48 h, respectively. Molds and yeasts were investigated by the spread plate technique using Dichloran Rose-Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) agar with incubation at 25 °C for 5 days.

The methods recommended by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) - Technique 955.46 B (16.13.14) and Technique 965.41 (16.19.02) - were used for the analyses for extraneous matter and mold filament counting by the Howard method, respectively (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2005Association of Official Analytical Chemists – AOAC. (2005).Official methods of analysis of AOAC International. Gaithersburg: APHA.).

The results were analyzed according to the current legislation - RDC 12 (02/01/2001) (Brasil, 2001Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2001, janeiro 10). Aprova o regulamento técnico sobre padrões microbiológicos para alimentos (Resolução RDC nº 12, de 2 de janeiro de 2001). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.) and RDC 14 (03/28/2014) (Brasil, 2014Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2014, janeiro 31). Dispõe sobre matérias estranhas macroscópicas e microscópicas em alimentos e bebidas, seus limites de tolerância e dá outras providências (Resolução RDC nº 14, de 28 de março de 2014). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.) - with samples were classified as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Counting of mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic bacteria, molds, and yeasts was performed only to investigate the hygiene conditions of the product, and the results were not determining for classification of the samples as satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

3 Results and discussion

Table 1 shows the results of the microbiological and microscopic analyses of the industrialized tomato sauces marketed in Brazil and evaluated in this study.

Table 1
Results of the microbiological and microscopic analyses of industrialized tomato sauces commercialized in Brazil.

Microbiological analysis (after incubation of the sauces at 35-37 °C and 55 °C) of the 42 samples of different brands of the product showed no changes in the packages and pH variation >0.2. However, four (9.5%) samples presented a non-characteristic aspect of the product, and were thus in disagreement with the current legislation.

According to the RDC 276 (22/09/2005), which regards the “Technical Regulation for spices, seasonings and sauces”, sauces are products in liquid form, pasty, emulsion or suspension based on seasonings, spices and other ingredients used to prepare or add scent/flavor to food. Product manufacturing must comply with the current legislation of good practices for not adding substances (physical, chemical, or biological) that represent a risk to consumer health (Brasil, 2005Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2005, setembro 23). Aprova o Regulamento técnico para especiarias, temperos e molhos (Resolução RDC nº 276, de 22 de setembro de 2005). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.).

All the samples with sensory changes (color, odor, texture, and flavor) presented artificial food color (specifically Bordeaux S). These sauces were also in disagreement with the legislation, RDC 04 (01/15/2007), which states that, in cases of products whose name includes the word “tomato”, addition of natural and/or artificial food coloring is prohibited (Brasil, 2007Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2007, janeiro 17). Atribuição de aditivos e seus limites máximos para a categoria de alimentos 13: Molhos e condimentos (Resolução RDC nº 4, de 15 de janeiro de 2007). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.). The presence of the artificial food coloring in these samples indicates intentional fraud, because this additive is not allowed for this category of food, and can bring economic loss to the consumer when acquiring the product. In addition, artificial food colorings are not completely innocuous, and can be harmful to human health because they can cause adverse reactions, including allergies, changes in behavior in general, and even carcinogenic effects in cases of prolonged ingestion (Polônio & Peres, 2009Polônio, M. L. T., & Peres, F. (2009). Consumo de aditivos alimentares e efeitos à saúde: Desafios para a saúde pública brasileira. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 25(8), 1653-1666. PMid:19649407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2009000800002
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2009...
).

None of the samples assessed presented mesophilic and thermophilic aerobic bacteria; however, growth of molds and yeasts was observed in five (11.9%) samples. As previously reported, fungi occur very often in tomatoes and their derivatives, but considering that these products undergo industrial processing, which includes washing, selection, heat treatment and pasteurization stages, the growth of molds and yeasts detected in microbiological analysis is not expected and may indicate contamination by heat-resistant fungi.

Thermotolerant filamentous fungi are often involved in the deterioration of thermally processed fruit products, because many of them produce ascospores (sexed form of reproduction) that survive thermal treatments and, subsequently, germinate inside the packages, causing great economic losses (Ferreira et al., 2011Ferreira, E. H. R., Masson, L. M. P., Rosenthal, A., Souza, M. L., Tashima, L., & Massaguer, P. R. (2011). Termorresistência de fungos filamentosos isolados de néctares de frutas envasados assepticamente. Brazilian Journal of Food Technology, 14(3), 164-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.4260/BJFT2011140300021
http://dx.doi.org/10.4260/BJFT2011140300...
). In addition, in Brazil, fungicide contamination has been observed in some tomato products since the 1990s, even under aseptic packaging conditions (Kawashima et al., 2002Kawashima, L. M., Soares, L. M. V., & Massaguer, P. R. (2002). The development of an analytical method for two mycotoxins, patulin and verruculogen, and survey of their presence in commercial tomato pulp. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 33(3), 269-273. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-83822002000300017
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-83822002...
).

Additionally, the occurrence of fungi in tomato sauce samples alert to the possibility of presence of mycotoxins, which may pose serious risks to human health (Pawlowska et al., 2012Pawlowska, A. M., Zannini, E., Coffey, A., & Arendt, E. K. (2012). Green preservatives: Combating fungi in the food and feed industry by applying antifungal lactic acid bacteria. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 66, 217-238. PMid:22909981. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-394597-6.00005-7
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-3945...
). Some studies conducted in Germany, Argentina, Switzerland and Brazil have demonstrated presence of mycotoxins in different tomato products, including purée, pulps, juices, ketchups and sauces (Motta & Soares, 2001Motta, S., & Soares, L. M. V. (2001). Survey of Brazilian tomato products for alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, tenuazonic acid and cyclopiazonic acid. Food Additives and Contaminants, 18(7), 630-634. PMid:11469319. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02652030117707
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02652030117707...
; Van de Perre et al., 2013Van de Perre, E., Deschuyffeleer, N., Jacxsens, L., Vekeman, F., Van Der Hauwaert, W., Asam, S., Rychlik, M., Devlieghere, F., & De Meulenaer, B. (2013). Screening of moulds and mycotoxins in tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, soft red fruits and derived tomato products. Food Control, 37, 165-170. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.09.034
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.201...
; Santos, 2014Santos, G. G. (2014). Qualidade físico-química, microbiológica e ocorrência de micotoxinas de Alternaria alternata em derivados de tomate (Tese de doutorado). Programa de Pós-graduação em Nutrição Humana, Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília.).

Analysis for extraneous matter is important both in the selection of raw material for food manufacturing and in monitoring the quality of processed foods. The presence of extraneous material in food products is unpleasant and can pose a serious health hazard to consumers. The main reason for carrying out analyses for extraneous matter in food is to ensure consumers protection from harmful or filthy food products (Tilocca et al., 2015Tilocca, M. G., Caneglias, E., Vodret, B., Mancuso, M. R., Zimmardi, A., Manno, C., & Schiavo, M. R. (2015). Analysis of foreign matter in foodstuffs using the light filth test: Report 2012-2013. Italian Journal of Food Safety, 4(3), 4504. PMid:27800401. http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2015.4504
http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2015.4504...
).

Investigation of extraneous matter enables evaluation of the quality of raw material and product processing in order to verify the hygiene conditions employed and protect the health of consumers (Tilocca et al., 2015Tilocca, M. G., Caneglias, E., Vodret, B., Mancuso, M. R., Zimmardi, A., Manno, C., & Schiavo, M. R. (2015). Analysis of foreign matter in foodstuffs using the light filth test: Report 2012-2013. Italian Journal of Food Safety, 4(3), 4504. PMid:27800401. http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2015.4504
http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2015.4504...
).

The current Brazilian legislation, more precisely Resolution RDC 14 (03/28/2014), defines two types of extraneous matter: those that indicate health risks and those that do not present risks, but can show that failures in the processes of production, manipulation or storage of the product have occurred. Also in accordance with that legislation, in certain foods, including tomato products, presence of some unavoidable extraneous matter is tolerated (within the limits set), even with the application of good practices. The tolerance limits for this extraneous matter are established according to the following criteria: a) health risk, considering the exposed population, processing, preparation conditions, and how the product is consumed; (b) available national data; c) occurrence of extraneous matter even with adoption of the best available practices; d) existence of international reference (Brasil, 2014Brasil. Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária – ANVISA. (2014, janeiro 31). Dispõe sobre matérias estranhas macroscópicas e microscópicas em alimentos e bebidas, seus limites de tolerância e dá outras providências (Resolução RDC nº 14, de 28 de março de 2014). Diário Oficial [da] República Federativa do Brasil, Brasília.).

In the present study, for the presence of extraneous matter indicative of lack of good practices, insect fragments were observed in 32 (76.2%) of the samples analyzed, but within the tolerance limits established by the Brazilian legislation (≤ 10 fragments in 100 g). Mites, whose tolerance limit for food in general is five dead mites per analyzed aliquot, were not found in any sample, and fragments of non-rodent hair, which are not tolerated in any type of food, were found in 11 (26.2%) samples, rendering the product unsatisfactory.

Fragments of rodent hair, considered an indicative of health risk, were observed in 12 (28.6%) samples, of which five (11.9%) presented values ​​above the maximum tolerance limit (1 fragment in 100 g).

Analyzing 130 samples of packaged food products that compose the Brazilian food voucher (sugar, rice, stuffed cookies, crackers, roasted and ground coffee, sweet bars, tomato purée, cassava flour, wheat flour, beans, corn meal, pasta, and salt), Daros et al. (2010)Daros, V. S. M. G., Prado, S. P. T., Martini, M. H., Graciano, R. A. S., Stancari, R. C. A., Gonzaga, Z. M., Chiarini, P. F. T., Yamamoto, I. T., Silva, M. L. P., Silva, A. M., Marciano, M. A. M., Nogueira, M. D., & Atui, M. B. (2010). Alimentos embalados que compõem as cestas básicas: Avaliação microscópica e da rotulagem. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 69(4), 525-530. observed extraneous matter of many origins in 71% of the samples, and found specifically fragments of insects and mites in samples of tomato purée. Similar data were also reported for fruit pulps marketed in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Insect fragments were detected in pulps of guava (84%), strawberry (78%), tomato (61%) and mango (38%), whereas rodent hair was observed in pulps of tomato (24%), guava (3%), strawberry (1%) and mango (0.5%) (Atui et al., 2014Atui, M. B., Silva, A. M., Marciano, M. A. M., Franco, V. A., Chasin, L. B., Ferreira, A. R., Fioravanti, M. I. A., Mattos, E. C., & Nogueira, M. D. (2014). Monitoring the extraneous matters in pulps of tomato, guava, mango and strawberry marketed during the seasons of the year. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 73(4), 325-330.).

In this study, neither whole insects nor insect fragments were detected in the analyzed samples. However, it is worth noting that a study conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) showed that the presence of whole insects in food is a major cause of consumer complaints (Olsen et al., 2001Olsen, A. R., Gecan, J. S., Ziobro, G. C., & Bryce, J. R. (2001). Regulatory action criteria for filth and other extraneous materials. V. strategy for evaluating hazardous and nonhazardous filth. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 33(3), 363-392. PMid:11407939. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/rtph.2001.1472
http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/rtph.2001.1472...
). Worryingly, insects can carry pathogenic microorganisms that cause foodborne diseases. Many studies have shown several species of flies associated with the transmission of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., Cryptosporidium parvum, Helicobacter pylori, and diseases caused by rotaviruses (Olsen, 1998Olsen, A. R. (1998). Regulatory action criteria for filth and other extraneous materials. III. Review of flies and foodborne enteric disease. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 28(3), 199-211. PMid:10049791. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/rtph.1998.1271
http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/rtph.1998.1271...
).

Rodent hair is often found in tomato processed products. The prevalence of this extraneous matter may be associated with cultivation (open field planting), mechanical harvesting (deep harvesting and with residues), spraying with pesticides that hinders the removal of hair attached to the epidermis of the fruit, among other factors (Moretti, 2008Moretti, C. L. (2008). Proposição de revisão da RDC nº 175 de 8 de julho de 2003 à luz da realidade da cadeia produtiva de tomates para processamento industrial. Brasília: Embrapa.; Atui et al., 2014Atui, M. B., Silva, A. M., Marciano, M. A. M., Franco, V. A., Chasin, L. B., Ferreira, A. R., Fioravanti, M. I. A., Mattos, E. C., & Nogueira, M. D. (2014). Monitoring the extraneous matters in pulps of tomato, guava, mango and strawberry marketed during the seasons of the year. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 73(4), 325-330.).

Despite the difficulty in eliminating rodents in the field, their identification at any stage of the production chain represents a serious problem to consumer health, because rodents can transmit several diseases, such as leptospirosis, bubonic plague, salmonellosis, as well as different viruses (Meerburg et al., 2009Meerburg, B. G., Singleton, G. R., & Kijlstra, A. (2009). Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 35(3), 221-270. PMid:19548807. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408410902989837
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10408410902989...
).

Mold filament counting by the Howard method showed that 41 (97.6%) samples had mycelial filaments and six (14.3%) samples presented values ​​above the maximum permitted (40% positive microscopic fields).

Corroborating the findings of this study, Correia & Roncada (2002)Correia, M., & Roncada, M. J. (2002). Padronização de método e quantificação de matérias estranhas e filamentos micelianos. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 61(2), 85-90. also observed high mold filament counting in fruit paste in sweets marketed in São Paulo, Brazil.

The presence of thermotolerant filamentous fungi in tomato sauces does not necessarily pose a risk to human health, but indicates the use of deteriorated raw material (Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 2005Association of Official Analytical Chemists – AOAC. (2005).Official methods of analysis of AOAC International. Gaithersburg: APHA.). According to the Instituto Brasileiro de Frutas (2014)Instituto Brasileiro de Frutas – IBRAF. (2014). Alerta técnico legal 01/2014. Retrieved in 2017, October 31, from www.ibraf.org.br/vst/arquivos/153115.pdf
www.ibraf.org.br/vst/arquivos/153115.pdf...
, the tomato processing industry fails to comply with requirements by the Howard method because of average air humidity > 50%, lack of effective detergent grid and chemical control, intercellular infection between tomato cultures, and lack of the technological solutions for separation of fruits with lesions (Instituto Brasileiro de Frutas, 2014Instituto Brasileiro de Frutas – IBRAF. (2014). Alerta técnico legal 01/2014. Retrieved in 2017, October 31, from www.ibraf.org.br/vst/arquivos/153115.pdf
www.ibraf.org.br/vst/arquivos/153115.pdf...
). In California (USA), 25% of tomatoes without visible changes were colonized by molds (Doan et al., 2016Doan, H. K., Perez, K., Davis, R. M., & Slaughter, D. C. (2016). Survey of molds in california processing tomatoes. Journal of Food Science, 81(11), M2785-M2792. PMid:27711969. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.13525
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.1352...
).

However, in the scope of the production systems, a series of factors limiting to the optimization of industrial tomato production is still observed. The occurrence of fungi in products derived from this fruit could be avoided through culture management, greater efficiency of irrigation techniques, levels of fertilization, crop rotation, soil preparation, beds suitable for mechanized harvesting, weed control, and ecological management of pests and diseases (Melo & Vilela, 2005Melo, P. C. T., & Vilela, N. J. (2005). Desafios e perspectivas para a cadeia brasileira do tomate para processamento industrial. Horticultura Brasileira, 23(1), 154-157. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-05362005000100032
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-05362005...
).

Certainly, insect fragments, rodent and non-rodent hair, filamentous fungi, and other filth found in tomato sauces originate not only from the raw material (due to ecological, environmental and crop management factors), but also from lack of good manufacturing practices and inadequate practices in the production, storage and distribution chain (Moretti, 2008Moretti, C. L. (2008). Proposição de revisão da RDC nº 175 de 8 de julho de 2003 à luz da realidade da cadeia produtiva de tomates para processamento industrial. Brasília: Embrapa.). Regardless, producers and manufacturers should always seek to ensure the integrity and quality of food products.

4 Conclusion

In general, of the 42 samples of tomato sauce analyzed, 20 (47.6%) samples were unsatisfactory and in disagreement with the Brazilian legislation, because they presented sensory changes, rodent and non-rodent hair, and/or mold filament counting above the maximum permitted values.

Therefore, the present study presents an overview of the quality of the industrialized tomato sauces marketed in the Brazil, pointing mainly to the presence of extraneous matter, whether they indicate a risk to human health or lack of good manufacturing practices.

There are still major technical, economic and social challenges regarding the food safety of tomato products. It is essential that the agricultural productive and industrial sectors act in an increasingly integrated way, seeking to add technologies in order to improve the quality of the raw material used and increase the control during the stages of product processing.

Finally, the findings of this study can subsidize health surveillance actions, contribute to the improvement of products and, consequently, protect the health and rights of consumers.

  • Cite as: Anversa, L., Pauli, L. F., Caria, E. S., Assis, T. C., & Stancari, R. C. A. (2020). Microbiological quality and presence of extraneous matter in industrialized tomato sauces. Brazilian Journal of Food Technology, 23, e2019276. https://doi.org/10.1590/1981-6723.27619
  • Funding: None.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    22 Apr 2020
  • Date of issue
    2020

History

  • Received
    12 Apr 2019
  • Accepted
    24 Jan 2020
Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos - ITAL Av. Brasil, 2880, 13070-178 Campinas - SP / Brasil, Tel 55 19 3743-1762 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
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