MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF BUTTER PURCHASED FROM THE MARKET OF RIO-DE-JANEIRO .1. INDICATOR AND PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS

The microbiological quality of 216 butter samples from 11 different br ands sold in the State of Ria de Janeiro was evaluated. One hundred an d thirty six samples belonged to the ''extra-type'', 60 were of ''firs t quality'' and 20 of the ''common type''. Counts were determined for total coliforms, fecal coliforms,enterococci, S. aureus and Salmonella sp. Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, enterococci and S. aureus were found in 56.9%, 37.5%, 100%, and 9.7% of the samples, respectively, wh ereas Salmonella was undetected in all cases. Nineteen percent of the samples did not conform to the Brazilian microbiological standard set by the Ministry of Health.