ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality and the transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria in different spices sold in town fairs (local food markets) in the municipalities of Recôncavo Baiano. Samples of black pepper, oregano, and cinnamon were collected over a period of six months and investigated for coliforms at 45 °C, Staphylococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The contamination in the black pepper samples (log 4.66 CFU g-1) was higher (P>0.05), than those of cinnamon (log 2.55 CFU g-1) and oregano (log 2.49 CFU g-1), particularly for B. cereus. E. coli (89%) and Salmonella spp. (67%) were isolated only from black pepper. B. cereus and S. aureus showed... |