Orientador: Germano Francisco Biondi / Banca: José Paes de Almeida Nogueira Pinto / Banca: Simone Carvalho Balian / Propôs-se colher e analisar amostras da merenda escolar, provenientes da Cozinha Piloto e de quatro pontos de distribuição, na cidade de Botucatu, SP. Objetivou-se avaliar o padrão higiênico-sanitário destas refeições, pesquisando os patógenos Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli. O padrão higiênico-sanitário dos utensílios envolvidos na distribuição da merenda e o padrão microbiológico presente nas mãos dos manipuladores envolvidos também foram avaliados mediante análises microbiológicas para bactérias aeróbicas mesófilas, S. aureus, coliformes totais e fecais. A metodologia utilizada para a detecção de Salmonella spp obedeceu às normas estabelecidas pela FDA, enquanto que para Staphylococcus aureus a metodologia seguiu os fundamentos da Instrução Normativa SDA Nº62, de 26 de agosto de 2003. A análise de Escherichia coli, bactérias mesofílicas e coliformes totais foi realizada através de método rápido (Petrifilm®). Visou avaliar também o grau de conhecimento e capacitação dos manipuladores de alimentos através de aplicação de inquérito de múltipla escolha, o qual abrangeu tópicos relativos à higiene pessoal, alimentar e ambiental adotadas por estes...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / The effectiveness of the food's hygienic-sanitary control from the raw material until their handling, processment, and consumption may be responsible to avoid several reports of diseases transmitted for foods. In order to gather and analyze school meal samples prepared in the Kitchen Headquarter and from four distribution places of Botucatu city, SP, the aim of the present study was to estimate the hygienic-sanitary standard of these meals, looking for Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli pathogens. The hygienic-sanitary standard of utensils used at the school meal distribution and the microbiological standard present in the food handlers were also estimated by microbiological analyses of mesophyllic aerobic bacteria, S. aureus and coliforms. The methodology used to detect Salmonella spp was the FDA one, while Staphylococcus aureus methodology obeyed the Normative Instruction SDA Nº62, from August 26th, 2003. Escherichia coli, mesophyllic bacteria's, and coliforms analyses were done by rapid test (Petrifilm®). The research also estimated the food handlersþ knowledge and capacity through a checklist. The results showed no development of Salmonella spp/25g, presence < 1,0 x 102 UFC/g of Staphylococcus aureus and < 1,0 x 101 UFC/g of Escherichia coli in all food samples analyzed; the presence of coliforms in swab's samples was not observed, while Staphylococcus spp was identified in some food handler's hands; a high number of mesophyllic aerobic bacteria in handþs swabs were also observed, but into utensilsþsamplers this number was considered normal. The absence of outbreak pathogens in the food samples shows the right preparation of them, but doesnþt exclude the possibility of fortuitous farther contaminations due to absence of food handler's information and correct trainmen...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below) / Mestre