Forty four samples of bottled mineral water, from different brands, were examined for total coliforms, E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enterococci and sulfide reducing clostridia, according to the Brazilian legal standard. The membrane-filter was the metodology used. None of the samples showed contamination by sulfide reducing clostridia, enterococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Total coliforms and E.coli were detected in 25% and 20.4% of the samples respectively sugesting poor hygiene along the process and recent faecal contamination. Such samples were in disaccordance with the Brazilian microbiological specifications. The bottled mineral water must be produced under good manufacturing practices with the objective to obtain safe products, since treatments can not be used to reduce/eliminate the contamination.
bottled mineral water; microbiological quality; total coliforms; E. coli; sulfide reducing clostridia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; enterococci
