PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF BULK FOOD FOR DOMESTIC CATS

Abstract

The domestication of animals is as old as the history of humanity itself. Over the years, this relationship has evolved, making domestic cats new members of the family. In this context, the pet food industry has also shown constant growth in the supply and development of the most varied types of food, in order to meet the diversity of nutritional demands of this sector. However, the bulk sale of pet food has become a general practice in almost all pet shops, which, in some cases, has resulted in failures in the quality processes of these foods due to handling and exposure to the external environment. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters of cat food, sold in bulk in the city of Belém-PA. Three samples (1 kg each) of cat food were collected from different pet shops in the neighborhoods (Cremação, Jurunas and Agulha/Icoaraci District). The following physical-chemical parameters (moisture, ash, pH, carbohydrates and proteins) and microbiological parameters (total coliforms, mesophilic bacteria, molds and yeasts) were analyzed. It was concluded that all samples were within the quality standards with results in accordance with the legislation (MAPA). Thus, this study also highlighted the role and importance of the pharmaceutical professional in the food industry, covering all stages of the production chain, developing new types of supplementation and ensuring quality standards for a safe food supply to these highly esteemed pets.