Orientador: Nilva Kazue Sakomura / Coorientador: Aulus Cavalieri Carciofi / Banca: Jane Maria Bertocco Ezequiel / Banca: Ricardo Souza Vasconcellos / Banca: Euclides Braga Malheiros / Banca: Cristiana Fonseca Ferreira Pontieri / Resumo: Os objetivos da presente tese foram avaliar o panorama qualitativo e determinar, por meio de métodos in vivo e in vitro, o valor nutricional da farinha de carne e ossos (FCO) e da farinha de vísceras de aves (FVA) para cães, além de estabelecer equações para predição da energia metabolizável (EM) destes alimentos com base em seus respectivos constituintes químicos e na solubilidade em pepsina. Objetivou-se ademais padronizar para cães a metodologia de solubilidade em pepsina da FCO e da FVA. Procedeu-se à ampla amostragem das FCO e FVA comercializadas no Estado de São Paulo - Brasil, sendo avaliadas 15 FCO e 15 FVA em relação às suas características qualitativas e, destas, oito farinhas de cada tipo foram avaliadas também em ensaio de digestibilidade com cães. Foram realizados dois ensaios de digestibilidade pelo método de coleta total de fezes e urina e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e EM dos alimentos determinados pelo método de substituição. Em cada ensaio foram utilizados 18 cães adultos da raça beagle, distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com três blocos (período), nove dietas e duas repetições por dieta. Formulou-se uma dieta basal e dietas teste foram obtidas pela mistura de 700 g/kg da dieta basal e 300 g/kg de cada uma das farinhas avaliadas. Foi determinada a solubilidade da proteína dos ingredientes em pepsina nas concentrações de 0,02%, 0,002% e 0,0002%. Tanto a FCO como a FVA apresentaram características qualitativas adequadas, com exceção de contaminação por Salmonella spp. por algumas amostras. A FCO apresentou reduzidos valores de digestibilidade e de EM, ao contrário da FVA, para a qual verificaram-se bons resultados. A solubilidade da proteína da FCO e da FVA em pepsina a 0,0002% e a 0,02%, respectivamente, são métodos qualitativos válidos. A EM em MJ/kg de FCO e de... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and to determine by in vivo and in vitro methods the nutritional value of meat and bone meal (MBM) and poultry by-product meal (PM) for dogs, and to establish prediction equations for metabolizable energy (ME) of these foods based on their chemical composition and on the protein solubility in pepsin. Moreover this study aimed to standardize the protein solubility in pepsin methodology of MBM and PM for dogs. MBM and PM marketed in Sao Paulo State - Brazil were sampled and it were evaluated 15 MBM samples and 15 PM samples to assess their qualitative characteristics and eight of each type of meal were evaluated in the digestibility trial with dogs. It were carried out two digestibility trials by the total collection of feces and urine method and nutrient digestibility and energy values of foods it were determined by the substitution method. In each trial, 18 adult beagle dogs were distributed in a randomized block design with three blocks (period), nine diets and two replicates per diet. It was formulated a basal diet and test diets were obtained by blending 700 g/kg of the basal diet and 300 g/kg of each of the meals evaluated. It was determined the protein solubility in pepsin at 0.02%, 0.002% and 0.0002%. Both the MBM as PM presented appropriate qualitative characteristics, except for Salmonella spp. contamination by some samples. The MBM presented reduced digestibility and ME values for dogs, as opposed to PM, which presented good results. The protein solubility in pepsin at 0.0002% and 0.02% for MBM and PM respectively, are valuable qualitative methods. ME in MJ/kg of both... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

The aim of this study was to carry out an analysis of a protein composition of diferent crop species using the method of peptide mass mapping. The samples were analysed using analytical method LC/ESI-Q-TOF and the acquired spectra were compared with the plant protein databases. The origin of the found plants was discussed in the aspect of the reliability of the used method considering the taxonomical relationships in the taxonomical group. The results of the analysis were compared with the food composition specified by the producer, and it was evaluated, if it is possible to verify the protein composition by using the applied method. In case of maize (Zea mays) this method is considered as reliable, because all of the found proteins were indentified as maize proteins. In case of rice (Oryza sativa) and pea (Pisum sativum), only one, respectively, two proteins of different plants species were found in the number of the relevant plant proteins. This method was evaluated as not so reliable for samples made of cereals (Poaceae). It is possible to conclude, whether the product comes from Poaceae or not, but it is impossible to verify the taxon of genus or the inferior taxons. This fact was in a great extent disscused in this thesis - the reason is probably the resemblance of Poaceae, and the...

This investigation was conducted in the rural community of Cuambo, located in the northeast of the province of Imbabura, in the Mira river basin of Salinas parish, at 1530 meters above sea level and with an average temperature of 19.5° C. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze the effect of using amaranth (Amaranthus) leaf flour in the creation of feeds for broiler chickens. The field work occurred during 12 months and consisted of two phases: A. Creation of the feed: This proceeded from the cultivation, cutting, and drying of amaranth until the obtaining of the flour and later the feed, with the respective formulation and acquisition of primary materials. B. Broiler chicken production: This occurred in the coop of the community's school, previously prepared for taking in the chicks. The study lasted 8 weeks. A completely random design (CRD) with five treatments and four repetitions per treatment was used, with 10 chickens per experimental unit. ANOVA analysis and Tukey and orthogonal comparisons were applied. The factor under study was the percentage of amaranth leaf flour in a basic diet. The treatments were as follows: T0 = Control diet for broiler chickens T1 = 16.7% amaranth leaf flour T2 = 35% amaranth leaf flour T3 = 54% amaranth leaf flour T4 = 78% amaranth leaf flour Analyzed variables: Weekly weight increase, Weekly food conversion, Accumulated food conversion, Total food consumption, Efficiency index, Yield, Skin pigmentation at the end of the treatments, Organoleptic analysis, Mortality, Economic analysis. From the results obtained, we conclude that the feed from treatment 1 (T1) is the best because it gave the most efficient results in terms of weight increase, food conversion, efficiency index, yield, and production cost. In the organoleptic analysis, T2 received more points regarding appearance, color, and texture; T1 received the best points in odor. The most acceptable treatments are T2 and T1, with the most points. In production cost, T4 was the least expensive, but it is not recommended for use because the chickens had poor results in the studied variables.

Limited data are currently available characterizing the thermal resistance of foodborne pathogens in semolina flour and intermediate pasta matrices representative of commercial conditions during mixing, extrusion, and drying. These data are essential to pasta producers seeking to be compliant with federal regulations since Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli demonstrate survival in wheat flour and dried pasta products. This study investigated the heat resistance of Salmonella, pathogenic E. coli, and E. faecium NRRL B-2354 in raw semolina flour and partially dried pasta intermediates via thermal death time (TDT) studies. This study also assessed the appropriateness of E. faecium NRRL B-2354 as a surrogate in semolina flour and pasta matrices. Inoculated pasta matrices equilibrated to target water activities of 0.85, 0.88, and 0.91 (measured at 25°C) underwent isothermal inactivation treatments at 65°C, 70°C, and 75°C. Serial dilution and direct plating methods allowed for estimation of bacterial survival at each treatment. In representative pasta matrices, the D-values for each microorganism increased as water activity decreased from 0.91 to 0.85. Surprisingly, Salmonella and E. coli did not exhibit significantly different thermal resistance in pasta. The greatest heat resistance was seen in semolina flour (aw 0.45). E. faecium was significantly more thermal resistant than both pathogens in all treatments when the temperature was ≤ 70°C. The results show that E. faecium strain NRRL B-2354 is not an ideal proxy for Salmonella and E. coli in semolina and pasta matrices. Analysis of the TDT data also found that a long-goods pasta drying process can achieve ≥7-log reductions of Salmonella and E. coli when following Good Manufacturing Practices.

<p dir="ltr">Bean flour possesses a significant fraction of water-insoluble components that are known to limit its uses in food applications. This study aimed to determine if using specific enzymes targeting the dietary fiber of bean flour could increase solubility, release protein and starch, and improve its utilization as a replacement for soy protein isolates in meat analogues. Water solubility, protein solubility, starch content and texture of bean flour was measured after enzymatic treatment with pectin- or hemicellulose-degrading enzymes in aqueous suspension. Low moisture reactive extrusion trials ranged from 60-80% solid content at 2 % enzyme content. High moisture extrusion ranged from 30% solid content from 1.5 to 5% enzyme content and from 40 % solid content at 2% enzyme content. Water solubility and insoluble protein increased with both low and high moisture reactive extrusion. Starch content increased with high moisture reactive extrusion. Beta-glucanase increased starch and insoluble protein content more than polygalacturonase treatments. However, Polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase increased overall water-solubility similarly. Determined starch content decreased with low moisture extrusion and both enzymes behaved equally. In the final set of trials, meat analogues were prepared with wheat gluten in combination with soy protein isolate, bean flour, or a mixture of soy protein isolate and bean flour. Replacing soy protein isolate with bean flour in meat analogues provided comparable hardness and anisotropic index. Polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase treatments during reactive extrusion of bean flours both decreased hardness of bean-containing meat analogues; beta-glucanase decreased the anisotropic index, whereas analogues made from polygalacturonase-treated flour did not differ from the control. Therefore, reactive extrusion showed either negative or null impact on texture. Reactive extrusion with polygalacturonase and beta-glucanase improved some desired analytical targets for bean flours, but the practical application (meat analogue) did not demonstrate an improvement.</p>

Dans ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés au mélange de la farine de blé et du poly(acide lactique). La farine de blé, qui est composée principalement d'amidon, a été thermoplastifiée en extrudeur bivis par l'effet conjugué de la chaleur et du cisaillement en présence de plastifiants. Le poly(acide lactique) est, quant à lui, le polyester biodégradable le plus répandu à l'heure actuelle. Le mélange de ces deux phases est thermodynamiquement immiscible et peu compatible, différents leviers sont testés afin d'améliorer la qualité du mélange. Une première partie de ce travail repose sur la recherche de conditions optimales pour la transformation et le mélange des matières premières. L'extrusion bivis est utilisée à la fois pour plastifier l'amidon et pour assurer un bon mélange entre les phases. Le profil de vis et les différents équipements sont donc choisis en conséquence. Différents paramètres classiques de l'extrusion bivis sont étudiés : le profil de vis, le profil de température, le taux de remplissage… L'étude de la formulation, notamment des plastifiants utilisés pour la plastification de l'amidon mais également l'utilisation de compatibilisants pour améliorer l'interface amidon/PLA est traitée en deuxième partie. L'acide citrique est testé à la fois comme plastifiant et comme compatibilisant. Ces investigations nous ont permis de mettre au point différents grades intéressants répondant à des applications industrielles distinctes : injectabilité, souplesse, rigidité… / In this work, we have been interested in blending wheat flour and poly(lactic acid). Wheat flour, which is mainly constituted of starch, has been transformed with plasticizers in a twin-screw extruder with the effect of heat and shear. Poly(lactic acid) is the main biodegradable polyester in the world nowadays. These two phases are thermodynamically immiscible and not very compatible, different ways are tried to improve the blend quality. A first part of this work lies on the search of optimal conditions to transform and blend the raw materials. Twin-screw extrusion is used to pasticize starch and to ensure a good blending between the two phases. Screw design and different equipments have been chosen for this purpose. Classical twin-screw parameters have been studied: screw design, temperature profile, filling ratio… The study of the formulation, more particularly of plasticizers for starch plasticization but also of compatibilizers to improve starch/PLA interphase is tackled in a second part. Citric acid is tested as a plasticizer but also as a compatibilizer. These researches have allowed to develop interesting formulations for industrial applications: possibility of processing by injection-molding, flexibility, rigidity…

Les résultats montrent que la teneur en cendres, protéines brutes, sucres disponibles, oxalates totaux, amidons et phosphore augmente significativement (p<0,05) avec la maturité. En revanche la teneur en amylose baisse avec la maturité. La capacité d'absorption d'eau, l'indice de solubilité, la température et l'enthalpie de gélatinisation (delta H) des farines et amidons augmentent significativement (p<0,05) en fonction du degré de maturité. Quel que soit le degré de maturité, les granules d'amidon ont présenté un diffractogramme caractéristique de type "A". Les précurseurs de brunissement augmentent significativement (p<0,05) avec le degré de maturité. Le paramètre L* des farines et des pâtes augmente alors que a* diminue en fonction du degré de maturité. Le paramètre L* est plus élevé et a* moins élevé dans le cas du séchage électrique que le séchage solaire. Les caractéristiques sensorielles des pâtes de taro Sosso sont affectées positivement par le degré de maturité et le séchage électrique. L'acceptabilité générale des pâtes de taro Sosso est corrélée à la couleur de celles-ci. Cette étude suggère que 10 mois de maturité de taro Sosso et le séchage électrique (40°C) sont des conditions favorables à l'obtention des pâtes de qualité acceptable / Results showed that the ash content, crude proteins, available sugars, total oxalate, starch and phosphorus content increased significantly with the maturity stage. On the other hand the amylose content decreased as function of the maturity. The water adsorption capacity, the water solubility index, the temperature and the enthalpy of gelatinization of the flour and starch increased significantly with the maturity stage. Irrespective of the degree of maturity the starch granules diffractogramm were exhibited an "A" type cristallinity. The browning indicators increased significantly (p<0.05) with the maturity stage of the tuber. The color coordinate L* of the flours and that of its dough increased while a* decreased with the maturity stage. These two coordinates lend themselves better with electric drying than solar drying. The sensory characteristics of the taro Sosso dough were positively affected by the maturity stage and electric drying. The overall acceptability of taro Sosso dough was correlated with its color. These results suggest that 10 months of the taro Sosso maturity and the electric drying (40°C) are the best conditions to obtain the acceptable pastes. These optimum conditions might be used to produce the taro flour at industrial scale

<p>Successful adoption of biofortified orange maize in developing countries requires careful consideration of factors across the chain from farm to fork. This includes consideration of post-harvest storage conditions optimal for the retention of both proviatamin A carotenoids and cooking quality critical to consumers. In these considerations, identification of economical storage methods is critical considering the limitations within specific countries that biofortified maize is being disseminated. To address these points, this dissertation research focused on evaluation of the utility of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags as a post-harvest storage solution for biofortified maize. The specific focus of this research was to monitor retention of provitamin A and other carotenoids in two biofortified maize genotypes (OPVI and OPVII) as well as storage effect on flour functionality. Finally, a preliminary assessment of the impacts of storage on carotenoid bioaccessibility was completed to begin to translate findings to practice.</p><p>Maize grain from 2016 harvest was stored at ambient conditions for eight months in either PICS bags with or without an O₂ scavenger, (PICS-oxy) and (PICS-noxy), respectively and compared to storage in common polypropylene woven bags (control). After 4 months of storage carotenoid content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in PICS-oxy compared to PICS-noxy and woven bags demonstrating the importance of entrapped oxygen on maize carotenoid degradation. Furthermore, differences in carotenoid stability between maize genotypes were observed with OPVI having higher retention than OPVII. After 8 months, carotenoid retention remained dependent on storage bag and genotype with retention being greater in PICS-oxy and PICS-noxy compared to woven bags. However, final levels after 8 months were more similar between storage methods. Overall, oxygen content and genotype were found to be determining factors in the effectiveness of PICS to mitigate carotenoid degradation during post-harvest storage of maize.</p><p>While reducing the rate of carotenoid degradation during postharvest storage of biofortified maize is important, success of biofortified maize is also dependent on consumer adoption of these grains and their performance in traditional food preparation. Assessment of the rheological and functional properties of these two biofortified maize genotypes as a function of post-harvest storage was completed to assess the impact of post-harvest storage in PICS bags on flour functionality and rheological properties for the two biofortified orange maize genotypes and a control white maize genotype. Flour pasting profiles were assessed initially and at 4 and 8 months. After 8 month storage in woven and PICS bag, OPVI and OPVII produced porridges with similar viscosities to their initial viscosities regardless of postharvest storage type. White maize viscosities progressively decreased with storage and were significantly lower (p<0.05) in woven compared to PICS storage. Sequestration of oxygen (PICS-oxy) had modest but significant effects (p<0.05) on key pasting parameters including peak and final viscosities. These results suggest that oxygen sequestration has a critical effect on final flour functionality. DTT treatment partially restored flour pasting profiles suggesting disulfide linkages may modify pasting profiles of flour. There was also an increase in free ferrulic and <i>p</i>-coumaric acids during storage which may have contributed to observed decreases in porridge viscosities. Evidence of this was found through Raman spectroscopy with spectral intensity at both 478cm^-1 and 2911cm^-1 decreasing with storage suggesting the potential for structural changes induced by storage on starch polymer. While storage in PICS bags does not seem to adversely affect flour functionality it may provide some additional economic benefit resulting from requiring proportionally less flour to achieve similar final viscosities as flour from woven bag stored grains. </p><p>Finally, the effect of postharvest storage on bioaccessibility of carotenoids was explored using experimental wet cooked porridges made from ‘fresh’ and stored grains using an established three stage in-<i>vitro</i> digestion model. Relative carotenoid bioaccessibility (% micellarization) was generally higher in less viscous porridge made from grains stored in woven bags compared to porridge from initial or PICS bags stored grains suggesting that higher viscosity might partly explain lower relative bioaccessibility in porridge from grains stored in PICS bags. Absolute carotenoid bioaccessibility from experimental porridge was dependent on carotenoid species and storage system. Extrapolation of relative bioaccessibility (%) to absolute bioaccessibility (µg/g flour) suggests that fresh grains and their corresponding porridges would provide more absolute bioaccessible carotenoids compared to stored grains despite some improvement in relative accessibility. As such, storage losses remain the main factor impacting total available carotenoids and should continue to be an area of focus for future mitigation. With the potential to minimize post-harvest losses, improve carotenoid retention and provide a product with improved cooking performance, PICS bags do appear to offer a viable storage alternative to improve both food and nutrition security in developing countries.</p><p></p>

O governo brasileiro adotou a fortificação de farinhas de trigo com ferro para auxiliar na redução da anemia no país. Esta intervenção não está administrada como um programa sanitário coordenado, com monitoramento de atividades e avaliação de impacto. Essas ações têm ocorrido na forma de pesquisa acadêmica dispersa no país, e têm focado na compreensão da estratégia pelos moinhos de trigo, no monitoramento da concentração de ferro nas farinhas do mercado, e na avaliação do impacto sobre a saúde de grupos vulneráveis à anemia. Os resultados dessas pesquisas levam a pensar num trabalho coordenado, com avaliações padronizadas sobre alvos adequados, e na necessidade de instrumentos específicos de monitoramento da fortificação para a indústria e para a fiscalização sanitária. O objetivo deste trabalho foi elaborar um roteiro de verificação das Boas Práticas de Fabricação de farinhas enriquecidas com ferro em moinhos de trigo, que incluísse diretrizes para procedimentos operacionais padronizados de fortificação, nas hipóteses da existência de grande diversidade tecnológica de fortificação nos moinhos, e na necessidade deste checklist pela fiscalização para auditar esse processo. A padronização desses procedimentos é imprescindível para a efetividade do combate a anemia, porque normaliza a qualidade dos produtos fortificados, tornando-os mais homogêneos. Para elaborar o roteiro de verificação foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica científica e de regulação, sobre Boas Práticas de Fabricação. Um roteiro inicial, para uma pesquisa de observação da indústria do trigo, foi extraído das legislações da vigilância sanitária, inclusive do programa nacional de fortificação do sal com iodo. A partir desse roteiro, entre 2007 e 2008, o pesquisador realizou uma pesquisa etnográfica em 11 moinhos de trigo no estado de São Paulo e elaborou uma lista de verificação de procedimentos operacionais de fortificação, contando com a colaboração de 20 profissionais de vigilância sanitária, convidados para aplicar o roteiro de BPF e apresentar parecer sobre o instrumento elaborado. Eles receberam do pesquisador uma capacitação em tecnologia de produção de farinhas em moinhos de trigo e posteriormente, colaboraram na elaboração e avaliação da efetividade do instrumento, acompanhando o pesquisador nas observações dos moinhos. O resultado é uma extensa lista de verificação das Boas Práticas de Fabricação em moinhos de trigo, com atenção às operações de fortificação das farinhas, que incluem procedimentos de dosagem e homogeneização de micronutrientes altamente diluídos na farinha, e de controles de qualidade de formulações de fortificantes e produtos finais, inclusive o registro de todas as informações. No checklist são indicados procedimentos operacionais padronizados de fortificação de farinhas e também, a amostragem para análise laboratorial da concentração de ferro e ácido fólico baseado no volume de moagem de trigo diário do moinho. A lista de verificação incluiu observações de moinhos de grande porte, que utilizavam diferentes sistemas de dosagem (volumétricos e gravimétricos) dos compostos de micronutrientes, controlados por procedimentos desde mecânicos até eletrônicos. Observações de laudos analíticos de farinhas levaram a concluir que existe ampla faixa de variação na concentração de micronutrientes entre as amostras analisadas. A qualidade dos resultados pode ser atribuída à baixa freqüência de controle dos sistemas de dosagem de menor automação, ao ponto de dosagem dos fortificantes que provoca pouca homogeneização da farinha fortificada, e à qualidade do composto de micronutrientes. Para melhorar a confiabilidade dos resultados de análise de ferro e ácido fólico são indicados procedimentos padronizados para análises laboratoriais com métodos analíticos validados. Concluiu-se que o método de observação participativa dos moinhos catalisou o conhecimento do pesquisador sobre a cultura do setor moageiro do trigo, fornecendo uma coleção significativa de itens de observação, que influenciam a qualidade dos procedimentos de fortificação. O checklist resultante de Boas Práticas de Fabricação enfocado na fortificação de farinhas contempla a variedade de situações tecnológicas observadas no mercado do estado de São Paulo e sugere-se sua utilização pelos moinhos de trigo para monitorar a produção de farinhas fortificadas e pela vigilância sanitária para auditorias e inspeções dos procedimentos industriais de fortificação. / The Brazilian government adopted the compulsory fortification of wheat flour with iron and folic acid to help reduce the iron deficiency anemia in the country. This intervention is not managed as a centralized sanitary program, with specific activities to monitor and to evaluate the impact on the health of a target population. These actions are being performed as a country spread academic research, on: the understanding of the intervention by wheat mills managers; the monitoring of the iron and folic acid concentration on samples of wheat flour for bakery and domestic use; and the evaluation of the intervention impact on the health of anemia vulnerable groups. The results of these researches make us think about a coordinated work, with standardized evaluations on adjusted targets, and specific instruments for monitoring the fortification process in the mills, and to be adopted by the sanitary inspection. The objective of this dissertation is to draw up a checklist for the inspection of the Good Manufacturing Practices of wheat mills focused in the production of iron fortified flour, including directions for the standardization of the fortification processes, in case there is great technological diversity in the mills in the country. In addition, it is useful to provide public health agents with a checklist for sanitary inspection. The standardization of the fortification processes is essential for the effectiveness of the fight against anemia, because it brings the quality of the fortified products into line, thus making them more homogeneous. To draw up the checklist, a scientific and regulatory bibliographical research was conducted on Good Manufacturing Practices. An initial checklist to make the first observation of the wheat mills was obtained from the Sanitary Surveillance Agency legislation, including the national program for fortifying salt with iodine. Between 2007 and 2008, the researcher conducted an ethnographic research in 11 wheat mills in the state of São Paulo, using the initial guideline, and elaborated the checklist for the inspection of the flour fortification operational procedures, counting on the contribution of 20 professionals of the Sanitary Surveillance system, who were invited both to use the checklist and to give their expert remarks. The researcher shared his knowledge and trained these professionals on wheat flour technology, and after that they could better collaborate to test the effectiveness of the checklist, accompanying the researcher during the wheat mills observation trip. The result is a comprehensive checklist for Good Manufacturing Practices in wheat mills, with special focus on the operations to fortify flour, including dosage and dilution of micronutrients, and quality control of micronutrients and fortified flours, including the registration of all information. The checklist highlights the standardized operational procedures for flour fortification and the sampling for laboratory analysis of iron and folic acid contents, based on the daily grinding volume of wheat in the mill. The checklist includes observation of big mills that used different systems for dosaging micronutrients (volumetric and gravimetrical), controlled by mechanic and electronic procedures. The analysis of some analytical reports on flours showed a considerable variation in the concentration of micronutrients of the samples. These results can be attributed to the infrequent control of the dosage systems of micronutrients; the point of dosage of fortifiers in the production line, thus impairing homogenization of the flour; and to the quality of the micronutrient compounds. To improve the reliability of lab results for iron and folic acid, some standardized procedures with validated analytical methods are recommended. As a conclusion, the ethnographic research method of participant observation of wheat mills has accelerated the researcher´s knowledge of the culture of the wheat milling sector. This approach brought significant information on items to be observed that influence the quality of the fortification process. The Good Manufacturing Practices checklist focused on the fortification of flour included a variety of technological situations observed in the state of São Paulo. We suggest its use for monitoring the production of fortified flours by the mills, and for inspections of the fortification procedures by the Sanitary Surveillance system.

A importância da implantação do sistema APPCC/HACCP em moinhos de trigo foi avaliada em três moinhos na regiões sul e sudeste do Brasil, focando o estudo nos aspectos microbiológicos da etapa demolhagem do trigo do processo de fabricação de farinha. Nesses moinhos, as paredes das roscas molhadora e distribuidora dos grãos de trigo apresentavam crostas com elevada atividade de água - 0,98, favorável à multiplicação microbiana. A limpeza das roscas era apenas mensal e a água usada na etapa da molhagem dos grãos não era clorada. Os estudos de APPCC/HACCP realizados indicaram que a etapa de molhagem era para estes moinhos um Ponto Crítico de Controle (PCC), constatando-se que as contagens microbianas 24 horas após a limpeza atingiam valores muito elevados. As medidas de controle adotadas foram a remoção diária das crostas para cloração entre 1 a 2 ppm da água, ou remoção semanal das crostas com cloração de 100 ppm da água. Verificou-se que água clorada de 1 a 2 ppm não melhorava as contagens microbianas na crosta, enquanto a cloração a 100 ppm baixava as contagens em dois ciclos log. Com esse nível de cloração, a limpeza podia ser feita semanalmente. Análises de verificação feitas em farinha de trigo apontaram que essas medidas de controle reduziam o risco de rejeição do produto por empresas clientes fabricantes de prqdutos derivados de trigo que adotam critérios microbiológicos bastante restritivos, mais rigorosos que os estabelecidos pela legislação pertinente. / The importance of introduction of HACCP system in wheat flour mills was evaluated in three mills of the South and Southeast regions of Brasil, focusing on the microbiological aspects of the grains wetting step of the flour production process. In these mills, the walls of the wetting augers and auger conveyors presented crusts with high water activity - 0,98, conducive to microbial growth. The cleaning of these points had been carried out on a monthly basis, using non-chlorinated water. HACCP studies indicated that the grains wetting step was a Criticai Control Point (CCP) and 24 hours after cleaning the microbial counts were very high. The control measures were removal of crusts on a daily basis using chlorination of water at 1 to 2 ppm, or removal of crusts on a weekly basis using chlorination at 100 ppm. The reduction of counts when 1 to 2 ppm chlorinated water was used was insignificant, but 100 ppm achieved two logs reduction. Using this level of chlorination, the cleaning could be done on a weekly basis. Verification analysis, carried out on wheat flour, indicated that these measures reduced the risk of rejection of the product by pasta and bakery goods manufacturers with strict microbiological acceptance criteria.