Bottled water: microbiological quality and consumer perception in Viçosa (MG)

The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiological and physical quality of mineral bottled water commercialized in Viçosa's city, Minas Gerais' State, and understand the perceptions related to its consumption. Samples of four brands of bottled water, in gallons of 20 liters, were analyzed for microbial (Escherichia coli, total coliforms, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and physical (color and turbidity) characterization. In addition, bottled water's consumers were interviewed to identity the perceptions concerning water quality and the reasons for choosing this water; these data were analyzed using content analysis strategy. The results showed that bottled water commercialized in Viçosa's city had, at some point, microorganisms counting higher than those recommended by Brazilian's regulation. The results concerning the qualitative study showed that the choice for bottled water consumption is less related to the sense of health protection than to a social practice, consolidated and legitimated in everyday.

本研究旨在表征巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州维索萨市（Viçosa）市售瓶装矿泉水的微生物与物理品质，并探究消费者对其饮用行为的相关认知。本研究选取4个品牌的20升装桶装瓶装水样本，对其微生物指标（大肠埃希氏菌（Escherichia coli）、总大肠菌群、肠球菌、铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa））及物理指标（色度与浊度）开展表征分析。此外，本研究对瓶装水消费者进行访谈，以明确其对水质的认知及选择该类饮用水的动因，并采用内容分析法对访谈数据进行分析。研究结果显示，维索萨市售瓶装矿泉水的部分样本中，微生物数量超出巴西相关法规的限定标准。质性研究结果表明，消费者选择饮用瓶装水，与其健康防护的诉求关联度较低，更多是作为一种在日常生活中固化并获得广泛认可的社会行为。