Hygienic – sanitary quality of ground meat sold in butcher shops in the city of Caaguazú, year 2023

Abstract

The hygienic and sanitary quality of the ground meat sold in the butcher shops of the city of Caaguazú has been assessed, carrying out a laboratory analysis of the meat from 10 butcher shops. The design of the work has been non-experimental and descriptive level; A sample of 500 grams of meat has been taken for each butcher shop based on recommendations from the Codex Alimentarius. At the time of sample collection, an instrument with indicators aimed at verifying the infrastructure, personnel and operating conditions has been applied. The most relevant results obtained have been the observation of pH values outside the limits considered normal in half of the butcher shops, DFD and PSE type meat has been found, the presence of adulterating agents such as starch. Parasites that encyst in the skeletal muscle have been absent in all cases, the sodium amino alteration test has been positive in 80% of the cases and lactic acid levels have been within normal limits in 80% of the cases. samples; As for the personnel, in 50% of the cases they do not use caps and the toilets are not adequate; Furthermore, the presence of rodents and domestic animals has been observed in 10% of the butcher shops visited.