Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of honey from Apis mellifera L. obtained in Piauí, Brazil. The completely randomized design (CRD) was used in the experiments. Two treatments of honey were prepared: one from beekeepers that use Extraction Units for Bee Products (EUBP) with Best practices for beekeeping (T1), and another one from those which use EUBP without the best practices (T2). Parameters analyzed were: moisture, water activity (aw), pH, acidity, color, detection of Salmonella spp., MPN.g^-1 of coliforms at 35°C and at 45°C, counting of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus, standard counting of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria and detection of yeast and filamentous fungi. The counting of mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria and yeast and filamentous fungi showed abnormalities (p<0.05) in the counting performed in log₁₀.g^-1 with samples of T1 and T2, respectively. There were presence of fungi of various genus and species, especially Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. The quality of honey from Apis mellifera bees from Piauí, Brazil, was satisfactory regarding parameters of moisture, aw, pH and HMF. Neither Salmonella spp., nor coliforms, nor coagulase-positive Staphylococcus were found. The presence of filamentous fungi in the samples reinforces the need for quality control of honey from Piauí, Brazil.

Key words: Physical chemistry, Hygiene and sanitary quality, Fungi, Best practices for beekeeping.