Ana Íris Mendes Coelho

Microbiological contamination of environments and surfaces at commercial restaurants.

This study was carried out to provide subsidies for sanitary actions applied to manipulators, environments and surfaces, assessing levels of microbiological contamination in three commercial restaurants (A, B and C) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State. Microbiological analysis were performed for presumptive counting of Bacillus cereus and mesophilic aerobic bacteria on surfaces of stainless steel benches, equipments, utensils and hands of the manipulators (swab technique), and air (simple sedimentation). It was observed expressive contamination by mesophilic aerobic bacteria in the samples examined, exceeding limits proposed by the APHA (American Public Health Association). Mesophilic aerobic microorganisms were detected in 100% of air samples, with counts ranging from 4.1 x 10(1) CFU/cm(2)/week to 1.1 x 10(3) CFU/cm(2)/week. Typical colonies of B. cereus were detected in 19% of all air samples, and the presence of such colonies was observed in all restaurants in levels that reached 2.1 x 10(1) CFU/cm(2)/week. In surfaces and hands examined it was also possible to isolate typical colonies of the pathogen in all restaurants. The sanitary situation of the environments studied requires interventions to reduce risks of great magnitude, concerning the occurrence of foodborne diseases.

Contaminação por Bacillus cereus em superfícies de equipamentos e utensílios em unidade de alimentação e nutrição

The confirmation that Bacillus cereus is a microorganism that represents a special problem in food processing plants, such as university cafeterias, inspired this work, the scope of which was to evaluate the risks consumers are exposed to by identifying the contamination points from whence the microorganism can be transferred on to food. The presence of B. cereus was detected in 38.3% of the equipment and utensils studied. Counts of up to 5.7x10 2 CFU/cm2 were found, with the highest values being found in samples from distribution sectors, indicating the importance of these areas as potential sources of microorganism transmission on to food.

Dia Mundial da Alimentação: duas décadas no combate aos problemas alimentares mundiais

World Food Day is celebrated on October 16, and every year a theme related to global food problems is chosen, and strategies to solve these problems are developed. The objective of this communication is to present a comprehensive review of those chosen themes, by decade, from its creation until the beginning of the 3rd millennium. Such themes have contributed to substantiating the problems whose eradication requires effective actions, as well as to warning the population about the urgent need for preventive measures that will ensure the survival of future generations.

Programa 5S's adaptado ao gerenciamento da alimentação escolar no contexto da descentralização

The school meals decentralization has broken out an increasing demand for technical assistance, particularly because of the faults in its planning and execution. The present paper gives an account of the experience from 5Ss Program used in the city of Vicosa, MG during the period of 1995 February until 1997 December, acting in critical points to help with school meals management, as well as to present the Program adaptation idealized for this purpose. The results showed that the methodology used in this process was effective for this case.