Ten samples of minced meat beef were collected in butcher shops of Santa Maria City, RS, Brazil, to determine the presence of total microorganism, total coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus. Respectively, PCA (Plate Counter Ágar), violet cristal red neutral bile and baird parker ágar was used. In the ágar plate counter for total microorganism. 60% of the samples presented a number between 1.7 a 8.8 x 10(4) CFU/g of minced meat. For Coliforms, 20% of the samples presented a number less than 1.0 x 10² C FU/g, 40% were among 1.0 and 3.2 x 10³ CFU/g, 30% between 3.7 to 9.6 x 10(4) CFU/g and in 10% had laboratory acidental. For Staphylococcus aureus, 100% of the samples turns positives with 50% of that between 1.0 a 4.0 x 10³ CFU/g, 40% among 1.3 to 2.8 x 10(4) CFU/g and 10% among 1.5 to 4.0 x 10(5) CFU/g of minced meat beef.
microbial; contamination; minced meat; butcher shops