Ocorrência de ocratoxina A em café

Abstract

Coffee is one of the biggest generators of wealth on the planet. It is responsible for generating jobs in all sectors of the economy. Brazilian coffee production is one of the largest in the world, accounting for more than a third of all world production. In addition to being one of the main agricultural products exported by Brazil, coffee is also one of the most consumed beverages in the country, thus being a product of great importance in all segments of Brazilian society. Sanitary barriers, especially those related to chemical contaminants such as ochratoxin A, are one of the biggest problems for Brazilian agriculture. Such contaminants, often silent, are increasingly present in the daily lives of consumers, due to the growing and dizzying global scale of production, trade, distribution and consumption of products and food. Ochratoxin A, when present above certain levels, can pose a threat to human health and become a major health barrier. Thus, in order for Brazil to guarantee the conformity of domestically traded coffees and exported coffees, it is imperative that the entire coffee production chain be involved in the implementation of a policy of good agricultural practices (BPA) associated with the hazard analysis system and critical points of control (APPCC) and the involvement of public agencies in monitoring, through laboratory analysis, the identity and quality requirements of the coffee as a way to obtain a sanitary product that is safe and free from economic fraud.