Consumer profile and problems associated with uninspected raw milk consumption in western Paraná

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to analyze consumer profile; to identify the main reasons for raw milk consumption; and to analyze in laboratory samples of uninspected raw milk from five towns in the western region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The types of milk most frequently consumed were: 42.3% ultra-high temperature (UHT), 38.3% pasteurized milk, 17.6% uninspected raw milk, and 1.7% powered milk. The frequencies of households that preferred uninspected raw milk were, according to the town, 32.7% in Iporã, 29.2% in Marechal Cândido Rondon, 18.9% in Assis Chateaubriand, 17.6% in Palotina, and 10% in Toledo. Flavor was the main reason for uninspected raw milk consumption, and the purchase of this product was more frequent in households whose income was between one to four minimum wages. It was observed that the sales of uninspected milk are more financially advantageous to the producer than sales of inspected milk. All samples analyzed showed lack of compliance with at least one parameter, 60.9% for mesophilic counts, 56.6% for non-fat dry matter, 52.1% for freezing point, 43.5% for acidity, 23.9% for density, 23.9% for the casein macropeptide, 17.4% for fat content, 8.7% were reactors in the milk ring test, and 2.2% were reactors in microbial growth inhibitor test. Fraud by addition of water was observed in 20% of the samples. Uninspected raw milk analyzed in this study involved a low-quality product that is a financial hazard as it may be adulterated, and that poses risk to consumer health.