Profile of raw milk consumers in the city of Serrinha, Bahia

Abstract

The consumption of raw milk, without previous heat treatment, is a constant reality in many regions of Brazil, where many consumers consume this product in natura because they believe that fresh products are healthier. The city of Serrinha, BA, is not far from this reality, as the informal consumption of milk still occurs and there is no inspection in this trade, making this practice a risk to the health of the population. Given this reality, the present study aimed to analyze the profile of consumers of this product in the city of Serrinha, BA. For the development of this work, a survey was carried out between November 2019 and February 2020, with milk consumers, in the neighborhoods Estação, Cidade Nova, Vista Alegre, and Urbis, totaling 313 respondents. According to the results, raw milk is consumed by 53% of the population and the main reason for its consumption is to have a better taste. The main dairy product consumed by respondents was dulce de leche. A high percentage of raw milk consumers (94%) had the habit of boiling the milk. The number of interviewees who are unaware of any disease that raw milk can cause is high, and people need to be guided about the reduced quality of raw milk and combat its commercialization.