Bifidobacterium spp. são microrganismos probióticos que podem ser incorporados em produtos alimentícios. Entretanto, para que seus efeitos benéficos à saúde humana ocorram, é necessário que o número de células viáveis na hora do consumo seja, no mínimo, 106UFC/g. As bifidobactérias são sensíveis à elevada acidez e, por isso, torna-se necessária a busca por métodos que possam proteger a integridade da célula, sendo um deles a microencapsulação. Em uma primeira etapa do trabalho, Bifidobacterium lactis foi encapsulado em micropartículas de alginato e alginato modificado (alginatoquitosana, alginato-quitosana-sureteric e alginato-quitosana-acryl-eze) e sua sobrevivência e liberação das micropartículas em fluidos simulados do trato gastrintestinal foram mensuradas utilizando-se soluções tampão com pH 1,5, 5,6 e 7,5, na presença e na ausência de pepsina (3g/L), pancreatina (1g/L) e bile (10g/L). A liberação de células das micropartículas teve uma relação direta com o pH do tampão. A microencapsulação aumentou a taxa de sobrevivência de B. lactis, em comparação com células não encapsuladas, em soluções tampão com pH 1,5 sem a presença de enzimas. Em suco gástrico simulado com enzimas digestivas, por outro lado, foi observado que a pepsina proporcionou um efeito protetor sobre as células de B. lactis, e nesse caso, as taxas de sobrevivência do microrganismo estavam diretamente relacionadas com o grau de injúria das células. Em uma segunda etapa do trabalho, leites fermentados com Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus e Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus foram enriquecidos com culturas de Bifidobacterium lactis submetidas a quatro tratamentos diferentes: desidratação em temperatura ambiente, liofilização/congelamento, encapsulação em alginatoquitosana e encapsulação em alginato-quitosana-acryl-eze. A população sobrevivente de B. lactis foi determinada semanalmente no leite fermentado e também após tratamento simulando condições do trato gastrintestinal. Os resultados indicaram que na ausência de pepsina, as populações de B. lactis foram reduzidas drasticamente após o contato com tampão pH 1,5, não sendo possível a detecção de células viáveis livres ou encapsuladas após 120 minutos de teste. A presença de pepsina influenciou positivamente a recuperação de células viáveis de B. lactis em todas as condições testadas, mas as culturas na forma desidratada apresentaram melhores resultados que as culturas microencapsuladas ou liofilizadas. No caso do leite fermentado contendo as células desidratadas, a população de B. lactis, após o tratamento em suco gástrico com enzimas, foi superior à detectada no produto antes desse tratamento. Conclui-se que a microencapsulação não foi eficiente para proteger B. lactis em leite fermentado contra injúrias causadas pelo trato gastrintestinal simulado. / Bifidobacterium spp. are microorganisms that can be added to foods. However, the benefits for the human health occur when the numbers of viable cells in the moment of the consumption is at least 106CFU/g. Bifidobacteria are acid sensitive, and methods to protect cell integrity, such as microencapsulation, are needed. In the first part of the present study, Bifidobacterium lactis was encapsulated in microparticles of alginate and modified alginate (alginate-chitosan, alginate-chitosan-sureteric and alginate-chitosan-acryl-eze) and the survival and release from microparticles in simulated gastrointestinal conditions were measured, using buffers (pH 1.5, 5.6 and 7.5), in the absence and presence of pepsin (3g/L), pancreatin (1g/L) and bile. The release from microparticles presented a direct relationship with pH. When the pH was 1.5 and no enzyme was present, encapsulation improved the survival of B. lactis, when compared to free cells. However, pepsin had a protective effect on B. lactis, and the survival rate was directly related to the cells injury degree. In the second part of the study, fermented milk samples containing Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. Bulgaricus were supplemented with B. lactis submitted to four different treatments: dehydration at room temperature, freeze drying, encapsulation in alginate-chitosan and encapsulation in alginate-chitosaacryl-eze. The number of viable B. lactis cells in the fermented milk was determined weekly and also after treatment with simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Results indicated that in the absence of pepsin, the number of viable cells decreased significantly after contact with buffers (pH 1.5), and no viable cell was detected after 120 minutes. Pepsin improved the recovery of viable cells in the assayed gastric conditions, being the dehydrated cultures more resistant than other cultures. In fermented milk containing the dehydrated cells, the number of viable cells increased after treatment with simulated gastrointestinal fluids. Microencapsulation was not an effective procedure to protect B. lactis in fermented milk against injury caused by the simulated gastrointestinal tract.

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / Local government (LG) is under increasing pressure from the milk industry and consumers regarding their ability and willingness to carry out their mandate with regard to the quality control of milk, especially in the informal sector. The government and the milk industry currently have programmes underway to stimulate economic activities in the informal sector, targeting emerging cattle farmers for the production of milk as part of government’s Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA). These initiatives further increase the number of informal milk producers and distributors, which holds a further challenge to regulatory authorities. At the same time, the quality of milk from the informal milk-producing sector poses a serious public health concern. Most of the milk produced and sold by the informal sector is raw (unpasteurised), which does not meet the minimum statutory requirements, and the milking practices applied by the informal sector also do not comply with best practice compliance standards. Local authorities (LAs) are statutorily responsible for registering milking parlours and controlling milk hygiene quality from production stage to purchase stage in order to ensure safe and wholesome dairy products to the consumer. Therefore, LG should play an increasingly important role in ensuring that safe and wholesome milk is produced and distributed to the consumers. All metropolitan municipalities (metros) and district municipalities (DMs) should be authorised by the Ministry of Health to enforce the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) through their authorised officials – mainly environmental health practitioners (EHPs). Secondly, LG should have specific programmes, systems and resources to register, monitor, evaluate and control milk production and distribution outlets for continued compliance