Chemical residues may be present in foods due to contamination in early stages of production, posing a potential risk to consumers. Organophosphates and carbamates are used in the control of parasites in animals and may generate residues in foods derived from these animals, like milk. This study aimed to survey the presence of these two pesticides in raw milk samples collected in four important milk-producing regions in Brazil and observe any possible relationship between presence of these compounds and the previously reported absence of Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella spp. in the same milk samples. Organophosphates and/or carbamates were detected in 196 (93.8%) out of 209 samples. For evaluation of the interference of these products on detection of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., 28 milk samples containing these pesticides were boiled for 10 minutes, added of the pathogens, and their multiplication was monitored during storage at 4 °C and 25 °C. No significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the growth of these pathogens in the milk samples when compared to negative controls, indicating absence of interference of the compounds on the detection of L. monocytogenes or Salmonella spp. However, the high frequency of raw milk samples containing organophosphates and/or carbamates poses a potential health problem to the consumers, even after heat treatment of the milk.
milk; pesticides; organophosphates; carbamates; Listeria monocytogenes; Salmonella spp.
