Parámetros de calidad higiénico-sanitaria para yerba mate elaborada

the researcg of the hygienic-sanitary quality of 60 different trademarks of elaborated yerba mate was carried out to determine standard parameters that could be proposed as reference. the counting of microorganisms: total aerobic mesophilic, total and faecal coliforms, fungi and yeasts was carried out in the samples following the techniques proposed by iram norms. in 61% of the samples, values of total aerobic mesophilic < 3000 ufc/g were found. in fungi and yeasts, 63, 33 % of the trademarks present values < 500 ufc/g and in a 60% of these trademarks the value of total coliforms is < 100 nmp/g. faecal coliforms were not found. in view of the values found, it is suggested that elaborated yerba mate be initially adjusted to the < 1000 ufc/g limits, for aerobic total mesophilic intervals < 100 nmp/g, and that faecal coliforms and pathogenic microorganisms should not be present.