AVALIAÇÃO HIGIÊNICO-SANITÁRIA DE DIFERENTES ESTABELECIMENTOS DE COMERCIALIZAÇÃO DA CARNE-DE-SOL NO MUNICÍPIO DE CRUZ DAS ALMAS-BA

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to assess the hygiene and sanitary profile of sun-dried meat sell points in the county of Cruz das Almas, Bahia. Four supermarkets, three food stores, two marketplace stallsand three butcher shops were researched, from December 2009 to January 2010. Data were collected by visiting, observing and the use of a checklist. From the places visited, only the supermarkets reached most of the evaluated parameters. In 50% of the sell points no refrigeration was used, and in 100% of them, the sun-dried meat was not packaged. In 75% of the establishments there was no exclusive knife to cut sun-dried meat, and in 25% of them food and money were handled simultaneously. Aprons, hairnets and clean closed-toe shoes were used in 25% of the sell points. No proper hand washing and others inadequate habits, such as chatting while handling and commercializing the product were in all the establishments. The sun-dried meat commercialized in the county does not comply with the Brazilian legislation, thus affecting food quality and putting at risk consumers' health, being necessary actions to qualify the workers involved in the handling of this food, as well a higher intervention of the responsible sanitary authority.