Ana Elizabeth Cavalcante Fai

Physico-chemical characteristics and functional properties of chitin and chitosan produced by Mucor circinelloides using yam bean as substrate.

Microbiological processes were used for chitin and chitosan production by Mucor circinelloides (UCP 050) grown in yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L. Urban) medium. The polysaccharides were extracted by alkali–acid treatment and structural investigations by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform IR analysis, viscosity and thermal analysis by TG, DTG, and DTA were done. The highest biomass yield (20.7 g/L) was obtained at 96 hours. The highest levels of chitosan (64 mg/g) and chitin (500 mg/g) were produced at 48 and 72 hours, respectively. It was demonstrated that yam bean shows great potential as an economic medium and it is possible to achieve a good yield of chitosan with chemical properties that enable its use in biotechnological applications.

Salmonella sp e Listeria monocytogenes em presunto suíno comercializado em supermercados de Fortaleza (CE, Brasil): fator de risco para a saúde pública

The objective of this work was to evaluate the occurrence of Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp. in fully cooked ham without fat cover, stored under refrigeration, commercialized in supermarkets of Fortaleza (CE, Brazil). Forty samples of cooked ham, proceeding from eight trademarks, collected in 26 establishments, were analyzed according to the APHA and HBP for Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp. detection, respectively. Thirty percent of the samples were contaminated with Salmonella sp. and 42.50%, 22.50% e 2.5% with L. monocytogenes, L. innocua e L. welshimeri, respectively. It was also observed imperfections in the application of good manipulation practices in the supermarkets freezer section. It was verify that 34.61%, 57.69% e 15.38% of the establishments presented some sample contaminated with Salmonella sp., L. monocytogenes and both microorganisms respectively, including the area inspected by the six Regionals Executive General Offices of Fortaleza. These data show the necessity of a quality control improvement in all parts of food systems as an essential factor in the prevention of foodborne diseases.

Coliformes em água de abastecimento de lojas fast-food da Região Metropolitana de Recife (PE, Brasil)

A guaranteed supply of clean drinking water in food outlets is a relevant subject for public health. The scope of this study was to assess the microbiological quality of 96 water samples of a network of fast-food stores in the city of Recife (state of Pernambuco, Brazil) and Metropolitan Area and to compare the results to the standards established by Brazilian Health Ministry decree no 518/2004. Every month, a double sample from one of the faucets in the food preparation area of the eight stores investigated was analyzed, totaling 96 samples over one year. The analyses followed the established methodology of American Public Health Association (APHA), in order to conduct the Presence-Absence Test, considering the potability standard in pertinent legislation. Results revealed that 11.46% and 1.04% of samples contained water contaminated with total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms, respectively. The quality of the water in the food establishments studied is thus a health hazard since a significant percentage of samples analyzed were inappropriate for human consumption in accordance with current legislation, which stipulates the absence of total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms.