Microbiological and isotopic (carbon-13 e nitrogen-15) analysis's of hamburgers sold in Botucatu, SP

• Grant number: 11/23164-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Products of Animal Origin Inspection
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Ducatti
• Grantee: Carlos Ducatti
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Jose Paes de Almeida Nogueira Pinto

Abstract

This work will aim at carrying out microbiological analysis of beef hamburgers, which will determine if this product is suitable or not for consumption in the hygienic and sanitary point of view, in other words, if conform the standards set by the relevant national legislation. To evaluate the microbiological quality, it will be collected samples of beef hamburgers in supermarkets in the city of Botucatu-SP to execute the following analysis: Coliforms counts at 45 ° C, the coagulase test for Staphylococcus, Clostridium sulphite reductase and Salmonella spp.,which will be carried out at the Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, UNESP/Botucatu. In addition to microbiological evaluation, will be checked for compliance of composition of the products against the information contained on their labels, specifically with regard to the usage or not the non-meat proteins (soybean protein). The physicochemical properties of the product will be analyzed by the technique of stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in the Stable Isotope Center of the Biosciences Institute of UNESP/Botucatu. This technique is based on the principle that as the carbon isotopic composition of plants following the C3 photosynthetic cycle differs from those who follow the C4 photosynthetic cycle and involves a system of equations, the measurement of carbon and nitrogen, present standards will be different if the ingredients of the burgers are not within the limits established by existing legislation in the country. There are no references to the use of mass spectrometry for analyzing the isotopic ratio of delta 13C and delta 15N in the study of burgers trademarks. These products, often in their labels, do not report the use of non-meat proteins to the consumer, who believes buying a product made primarily from animal protein. (AU)