Análises das condições sanitárias da Erva-Mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) comercializada na cidade de Aquidauana – MS

Abstract

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is native to South America and related to tradition, culture and history of a part of the Brazilian population, especially in the Central-West and South. In Brazil, it is consumed like drinks such as chimarrão, mate tea and tereré. The purpose of this study is to verify the sanitary conditions through the presence of foreign materials and total and thermotolerant coliforms in tereré yerba produced in Brazil and Paraguay and sold in Aquidauana's city. Six samples of yerba mate from different locations and brands were analyzed using the multiple-tube technique, expressed in Most Probable Number (MPN). Even if most samples meet sanitary standards, the coliform bacteria presence indicates potential fecal contamination, which denote lack of hygiene during the processing, production or storage of yerba-mate.