Study of The Main Types of Beverages Adulteration Seized in Recife City – Brazil

Abstract

In this paper we analyzed expertise reports between 2010-2014 of forensic analyses used to discover beverages adulteration in Recife city. This research was performed consulting reports copies at general file sector performed of the Institute of Criminalistics Prof. Armando Samico (ICPAS). Was made Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of adulteration patterns by Recife Political-Administrative Regions (PAR), to establish most common incidence adulteration by city areas. Was found a total of 295 analyzes in beverages. Of these 71% were in alcoholic beverages, 18% in non-alcoholic beverages and 11% in bottled water. Regarding the 41% adulteration corresponded to foreign bodies’ presence, 27% showed fungi presence, 17% were being sold out-dated, 6% had sensory change, 5% were inconclusive expertise and 4% product does not correspond to that shown on the label. Through the PCA it was found that in the Southwest region of Recife occurred more cases of foreign bodies presence and not correspond products, in the South region occurred more fungi presence and sensory change. Although Center, North, West and Northwest regions have not statistically significant any type of adulteration. Consumption of adulterate beverages may cause risks to consumer health ingesting toxic substances due to degradation or presence of microorganisms or the presence of foreign bodies.