Análise microbiológica de rações comerciais para cães e gatos, vendidas a granel, no agreste paraibano.

Abstract

The production line of dry ration for company animals is so long and, although the pet market is constantly growing, suffers from the lack of specific legislation capable of adequately controlling the production and sale of dry ration. Rations sold in bulk are the most likely to present contaminants, once their exposure. Twenty one samples (each with 200-300g) of 10 different cities, in duplicate and series of 3 tubes, of dry petfood (20 sold in bulk and 1 in a closet bag) were collected and analyzed. Total counts of aerophilic mesophiles, total yeast and mold counts were determined and the most probable numbers of total and thermotolerant coliforms were determined. In the results, growth was observed in most of the samples tested for aerophilic mesophiles, yeasts and molds, indicating bacterial and fungal contamination of the samples. In the coliform tests six samples were reacted in the 10-¹ dilution tubes. It is recommended to develop adequate legislation for the production of dry ration for company animals as well as new methods of storing the ration sold in bulk to preserve the microbiological and nutritional quality of the ration.