Microbiological and physicochemical characterization of the pollen stored by stingless bees

Abstract The present study aimed at checking the microbiological condition and physicochemical differences of the pollen stored by different stingless bee species in the north east of Brazil. The stored pollen was collected from apiaries of colonies of the species Melipona subnitida, M.scutellaris, M. mandacaia, Scaptotrigona sp. and Frieseomellita varia. The microbiological quality was analysed for the main microbial indicators of commercial quality (mesophiles, moulds, and yeasts), sanitary quality (coagulase positive Staphylococcus, faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli ) and safety (sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores and Salmonella ). The physicochemical parameters evaluated were those required by the Brazilian Technical Regulation for Bee Pollen Quality, as well as the phenolic compounds. The microbiological condition of all the samples was within the recommended levels for human consumption. The results confirmed differences in the physicochemical compositions of the pollens stored by the five species studied, forming three groups according to the physicochemical parameters. The samples of the species M. Scutellaris showed five times more phenolic compounds than the pollens of the other species assessed. The present study allowed for knowledge of the composition of the pollens stored by stingless bees, reinforcing the need for reformulation of the current Technical Regulation for Bee Pollen in order to include the pollen stored by native species.