PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AND ADEQUACY TO THE LEGISLATION OFDEHYDRATED BEE-POLLEN, PRODUCED IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain data on the production and verify the adequacy, based on Brazilian legislation, of practices adopted during the processing of bee-pollen collected in nine Brazilian states; and, to identify the perception of the beekeepers about the vegetation visited by bees. The data were obtained from the beekeepersusing a questionnaire and, in the laboratory, the moisture content and the botanical origin of the 69 samples were identified. It was observed that the number of productive hives per apiary ranged from 3 to 300.The frontal type collector was used by all producers who answered this question. The interval between the collection and the dehydration of the samples varied between apiaries and only two samples were lyophilized, while the others were dehydrated in an electric oven. Part of the samples was dehydrated under temperature above the limit established in Brazilian legislation, and 91% of the analyzed products had moisture content above 4%. No food additives were used at any stage of the process. Pollen analysis indicated that, in some cases, the producers were able to identify the plants visited by bees. It is concluded that, the production of bee-pollen was performed by small or medium beekeepers, which adopt different practices of production and processing, respecting the non-use of additives, however, with failures in terms of dehydration temperature and moisture content in the final product. Moreover, when producers carefully observe the collection of pollen by bees, they are able to perceive the polliniferous sources.