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In this study, the apparent viscosity of a skim milk based dessert was optimized through the use of a 5-level Central Composite Design. The effect of carrageenan, guar gum, sucrose and pH on the dessert's apparent viscosity was esti-mated. The dessert's flow behavior was also analyzed. A rotational viscometer was used for the the apparent viscosity measurements. All formulations presented a non-Newtonian, shear-thinning behavior. Except for carrageenan concentration, all of the design factors affected apparent viscosity, being the effects better described by second order polynomial models. The following combinations of the variable ingredients yielded the best apparent viscosity: guar gum concentration: 0.0-0.315% (w/w) and sucrose concentration: 5.000-8.615% (w/w); or guar gum concentration: 0.109-0.315% (w/w) and sucrose concentration: 5.000-11.000% (w/w); in both cases, carrageenan and pH were kept at 0.020% (w/w) and 6.50, respectively.

Over the last decades, lettuce has been associated to several foodborne outbreaks. The present study surveyed the microbiological and parasitological contamination of green leaf lettuce used in sandwiches sold in snack bars in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Lettuce was collected before and after commercial washing. Such procedure was made by holding and rotating the whole lettuce or separated leaves under the faucet of a sink with cold water for 10-30s. Three samples of 25g of lettuce leaves from each snack bar were assessed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, molds and yeasts, Escherichia coli, incidence (%) of general parasites, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus. The obtained mean counts, expressed as Colony Forming Units per gram of lettuce, were respectively: 5.9 x 106; 6.4 x 103; 2.1 x 102; 73%, for non-washed samples; and 7.3 x 104; 5.9 x 103; 1.0 x 102; 18%, for washed samples. The water washing, as it has been performed in the food establishments investigated, showed to be inefï¬ cient for sanitizing lettuce. Though Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were not found, the results refl ect unsanitary production practices and show that the assessed lettuce has been a source of biological hazard.

Over the last decades, lettuce has been associated to several foodborne outbreaks. The present study surveyed the microbiological and parasitological contamination of green leaf lettuce used in sandwiches sold in snack bars in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Lettuce was collected before and after commercial washing. Such procedure was made by holding and rotating the whole lettuce or separated leaves under the faucet of a sink with cold water for 10-30s. Three samples of 25g of lettuce leaves from each snack bar were assessed for mesophilic aerobic bacteria, molds and yeasts, Escherichia coli, incidence (%) of general parasites, Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus. The obtained mean counts, expressed as Colony Forming Units per gram of lettuce, were respectively: 5.9 x 106; 6.4 x 103; 2.1 x 102; 73%, for non-washed samples; and 7.3 x 104; 5.9 x 103; 1.0 x 102; 18%, for washed samples. The water washing, as it has been performed in the food establishments investigated, showed to be ineffi cient for sanitizing lettuce. Though Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were not found, the results refl ect unsanitary production practices and show that the assessed lettuce has been a source of biological hazard.