Evaluation of the Effects of Food Safety Training on the Microbiological Load Present in Equipment, Surfaces, Utensils, and Food Manipulator's Hands in Restaurants.

Training food handlers is essential to ensure food safety. However, the efficacy of training programs relying solely on theoretical information remains uncertain and often fails to induce significant changes in inadequate food practices. Training programs in good hygiene and food safety practices that integrate theoretical and practical approaches have emerged as a vital tool, enabling food handlers to apply their knowledge during work hours and clarify doubts. This study aimed to assess the impact of food safety training based on theoretical and on-the-job training on the microbiological counts of equipment, surfaces, utensils, and food handler (FH) hands. The hygiene and food safety conditions of four restaurants were analyzed through facility checklists, employee questionnaires, and microbiological analyses conducted before and after training. Eight sample collection moments were conducted at each restaurant before and after training. The pre-training results indicate that 15% and 26% of analyses for Enterobacteriaceae and total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMB), respectively, did not comply with hygiene safety limits. Additionally, 31% and 64% of Enterobacteriaceae and TMB values, respectively, exceeded safety limits on food handler hands. Positive cases of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) resulted from unprotected wounds on some FH hands. The presence of Listeria monocytogenes in drains was also identified as a concern. Following training, significant differences in results were observed. In many cases, there was a reduction of over 80% in microbial load for Enterobacteriaceae and TMB collected from equipment, surfaces, utensils, and food handler hands. The presence of L. monocytogenes in drains was also eliminated after food safety training. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of effective training in improving food safety practices.

Microbial, Physicochemical Profile and Sensory Perception of Dry-Aged Beef Quality: A Preliminary Portuguese Contribution to the Validation of the Dry Aging Process.

Beef dry-aging consists of a selection of unpackaged prime cuts placed in a controlled environment cold room for several weeks. The goals are to concentrate flavors like nutty and beefy and to improve tenderness. The aim of this study was to verify the microbiological and physicochemical behavior and sensory perception of meat during a sample process example of meat dry-aging. Twelve beef loins were selected for 90 days of dry aging and placed in a cold room with average temperature, relative humidity and forced air 3.2 ± 0.7 °C, 60.7 ± 4.2% and 0.5-2 m/s, respectively. Samples of crust and lean meat were collected on days 1, 14, 21, 35, 60 and 90 of the dry aging process for microbiological, physicochemical (pH, aw, color L*a*b*) and sensory analysis. During drying, no pathogenic bacteria were detected, and the average counts were higher for the crust. The average values for water activity (aw) and pH were 0.98 ± 0.02 and 5.77 ± 0.015, respectively. A slight decrease in aw and an increase in pH were observed over the aging period (p < 0.05). The lower microbial counts on the lean meat and the overall assessment of freshness confirm the importance of good manufacturing and storage practices during dry aging.

Prática de atividade física ao ar livre na pandemia da COVID-19 entre professores do ensino público / Practice of outdoor physical activity in the COVID-19 pandemic among public school teachers

Este estudo objetivou verificar a prática de atividade física ao ar livre durante a pandemia da CO-VID-19 entre os professores da educação básica pública de Minas Gerais. Trata-se de um inquérito epidemiológico do tipo websurvey, realizado com professores da educação básica pública de Minas Gerais. A coleta de dados ocorreu de agosto a setembro de 2020 via formulário digital. A variável de-pendente foi a prática de atividade física ao ar livre durante a pandemia, categorizada em sim vs não. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se a Regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta. O estudo contou com 15.641 participantes. Entre eles, 30,5% estavam realizando atividade física ao ar livre durante a pandemia. Houve maior prevalência entre os homens (RP = 1,15; IC95%: 1,09 - 1,22), aqueles que trabalhavam na zona rural (RP = 1,07; IC95%: 1,01 - 1,13), que não tiveram diminuição na renda familiar (RP = 1,08; IC95%: 1,03 - 1,13), que viviam com cônjuge (RP = 1,05; IC95%: 1,01 - 1,10), que não aderiram totalmente ao distanciamento social (RP = 1,23; IC95%: 1,17 - 1,29), que aumen-taram o desejo de cuidar da aparência física (RP = 1,47; IC95%: 1,40 - 1,55), com melhor padrão alimentar (RP = 1,45; IC95%: 1,39 - 1,52), que estavam realizando atividades de lazer (RP = 1,33; IC95%: 1,27 - 1,40), aqueles que não apresentaram excesso de peso corporal (RP = 1,05; IC95%: 1,01 - 1,10), que não estavam com muito medo da COVID-19 (RP = 1,07; IC95%: 1,02 - 1,12) e os que não faziam parte do grupo de risco para a COVID-19 (RP = 1,10; IC95%: 1,05 - 1,16). Os resultados indicaram, de modo geral, um perfil positivo com os cuidados em relação à saúde entre os praticantes de atividade física ao ar livre

this study aimed to verify the practice of outdoor physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic among public basic education teachers in Minas Gerais. This is a websurvey-type epidemiological survey, carried out with adults, public basic education teachers in the state of Minas Gerais. Data collection took place from August to September 2020 using a digital form. The dependent variable was the practice of outdoor physical activity during the pandemic, categorized as yes vs no, and those who practiced other types of exercise were not considered. For data analysis, Poisson regression was used, with robust variance. The study had 15,641 participants. Among them, 30.5% were performing physical activity outdoors during the pandemic. There was a higher prevalence among men (PR = 1.15; 95%CI: 1.09 - 1.22), those who worked in rural areas (PR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.13), who had no decrease in family income (PR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.03 - 1.13), who lived with a spouse (PR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.10), who did not fully adhere to social distancing (PR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.17 - 1.29), which increased the desire to take care of physical appearance (PR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.40 - 1.55), with a better dietary pattern (PR = 1.45; 95%CI: 1.39 - 1.52), who were performing leisure activities (PR = 1.33; 95%CI: 1.27 - 1.40) , those who were not overweight (PR = 1.05; 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.10), who were not very afraid of COVID-19 (PR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.02 - 1.12) and those who were not part of the risk group for COVID-19 (PR = 1.10; 95%CI: 1.05 - 1.16). The results indicated, in general, a positive profile with regard to health care among practitioners of outdoor physical activity

Perceptions of the Use of the Diode Laser in Dental Surgery: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Objective: To discover the perceptions of pediatric patients, their parents and undergraduate Dentistry students of the use of the diode laser in frenectomy surgeries. Material and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews, recorded and transcribed with subsequent content analysis. Twelve healthy children (5-8 years old) who needed a frenectomy were selected and invited, together with their parents, to undergo laser diode surgery. In addition, 28 undergraduate dentistry students were invited to attend the procedures. One week after performing the surgical procedures, the children (Group 1), their parents (Group 2) and the students who attended the procedures (Group 3) were individually interviewed for the thematic analysis. Results: The analysis of the conversations identified three emerging contents: positive thoughts on the use of diode laser; frustrations from the use of diode laser; and aspects related to professional training. Conclusion: The results pointed to the acceptance of surgical laser use in pediatric dentistry; however, the feelings of frustration indicate that its use requires guidance from the child and his/her parents, in addition to careful handling and specific training.

Avaliação do bem-estar no transporte e nos currais de descanso pela ocorrência de lesões em carcaças de suínos abatidos em matadouro / Evaluation of welfare during transport and lairage through the occurrence of lesions in slaughtered pig carcasses

Bem-Estar Animal consiste no estado do animal em sua tentativa de adaptação ao meio ambiente envolvente, podendo ser medido e melhorado com a ação do ser humano. Nos últimos anos o tema “Bem-Estar Animal” tem adquirido importância, resultante das grandes preocupações com o manejo dos animais em vida e constatação da influência que este tem na qualidade da carne post mortem. Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o efeito do lote de suínos transportados, respectivo tamanho, tipo de trajeto e do tempo decorrido entre a origem e o abate na ocorrência de lesões, consideradas indicadores mínimos de bem-estar animal em matadouro. Nos matadouros de suínos da região norte de Portugal, foram monitorados 834 animais com relação à ocorrência de lesões compatíveis com lacerações, eritemas cutâneos, hematomas e fraturas, em cinco diferentes lotes. Pela análise global dos dados, verificou-se que as lacerações estavam presentes em 72 por cento dos animais e foi o tipo de lesão mais frequentemente observado. Seguiram-se os eritemas cutâneos em 20 por cento, os hematomas em 11 por cento e as fraturas em apenas 1 por cento dos animais. O tamanho do lote de animais transportados, a duração da viagem e o tempo de permanência no matadouro influenciaram significativamente a ocorrência das lesões monitoradas, nomeadamente lacerações, eritemas e hematomas.

Animal welfare is the state of the animal in its attempts to cope with its environment, and it can be measured and improved by the action of man. Recently, the topic “Animal Welfare” has become more important, resulting from the discovery that the management of animals in life has impact on the post mortem meat quality. This study aimed to determine the effect of transport batch number of pigs transported by batch, type of route and the time elapsed between the exploration and slaughter in the occurrence of lesions, considered as indicators of animal welfare at the slaughterhouse. At one slaughterhouse of pigs located in the northern of Portugal, 834 animals were monitored in order to check the occurrence of lesions consistent with lacerations, erythema, bruising and fractures, from a total of five different transport batches. The global analysis of the data showed that lacerations were present in 72 percent of animals and was the most common type of lesion, followed by erythema, bruises and broken bones presented in 20 percent percent and 1 percent respectively. The size of each batch, the duration of the journey and the time spent in the lairage significantly influenced the occurrence of observed lesions, particularly, lacerations, erythema and bruising.