Evaluación de la calidad de la leche cruda e implementación de un manual de transporte y almacenamiento en el centro de acopio Milca

Abstract

Tungurahua province ranks fourth in raw milk production at the national level. Approximately, 430 thousand liters per day, where only 20% of the production is destined for the industry, and the remaining 80% is sold in the informal market as by-products. These foods lack adequate control of manufacturing processes, which undermines consumers' food safety. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the quality of raw milk through organoleptic, physicochemical, and microbiological analysis according to the NTE INEN 9:2012 standard, as well as, the implementation of a transport and storage manual at MILCA collection center according to the checklist established by Agrocalidad in RESOLUTION DAJ-2013461-0201.0213. The research had a quantitative approach, as the quality parameters of raw milk were analyzed using the data obtained to describe, analyze, and explain the results obtained over two weeks with two replicates. It had a descriptive observational design, as an observation process was carried out by applying a checklist with the proposal of the manual for transporting and storing raw milk. It corresponds to a non-experimental design since variables were not manipulated. To verify the quality of raw milk, analyses of its sensory characteristics such as color, odor, and appearance were carried out. Physicochemical analyses included relative density, fat content, titratable acidity, total solids, non-fat solids, ash content, freezing point, proteins, reductase assay, protein stability reaction, presence of preservatives, neutralizers, adulterants, whey, brucellosis test, and residues of veterinary drugs. In addition, microbiological analyses were conducted, including mesophilic aerobic count and the presence of somatic cells. Through the methodology, it was determined that the quality of raw milk collected at the collection center met the physicochemical and microbiological parameters required by the INEN regulations. Also, the implementation of a manual for transport and storage was carried out through the checklist established by Agrocalidad.