Characterization of quality of raw milk and pasteurized commercialized informally in Colorado do Oeste City, RO, Brazil

Milk quality can be characterized by physicochemical parameters indicating possible changes in the product properties. The poor quality of milk may affect human health and compromise the shelf life of the product. The objective of this study was to characterize the physicochemical quality of milk and to perform reductase testing of twenty four samples of raw milk and of twelve samples of pasteurized milk being informally commercialized in the city of Colorado do Oeste, RO. The density, the cryoscopic index, the fat (using the method of Gerber), the acidity (in Dornic degrees), and the defatted solids (SNG) (according to official methods) were evaluated accoring to the Normative Instruction 68. The results of cryoscopy and density, showed that 27% (n = 10) and 27% (n = 10) of the samples, respectively, do not comply with the IN-62 criteria. For the content of defatted solids, 19% of the samples were at odds with the legislation. The assessment of physicochemical parameters suggest that the informal trade of milk in the studied retail outlets can compromise the integrity of the product, a problem that might be solved by correcting and intensifying enforcement actions.