title: Commercial bee pollen with different geographical origins: a comprehensive approach.
abstract: Since the primordial of humanity, pollen has been considered a good source of nutrients and energy. Its promising healing properties have also been referred to. The present study aimed to characterize, for the first time, eight commercial pollens from Portugal and Spain available on the market studying the legislation on labeling, pollinic origin, physicochemical and microbiological analyses and identification of yeasts. Eleven botanical families were found amongst the samples. The most abundant family and the most dominant pollen was Cistaceae. The moisture content, ash, a(w), pH, reducing sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy were analyzed and the specific parameters were within the specifications required by some countries with legislation regarding these parameters. Microbiologically commercial pollen showed acceptable safety for the commercial quality and hygiene. All samples showed negative results for toxigenic species. The microorganisms studied were aerobic mesophiles, yeasts and moulds, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and sulfite-reducing Clostridium. During the work, six yeasts species were isolated from pollen, with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa being the most abundant, as it was present in four samples.
authors.affiliation: CIMO-Mountain Research Center, Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5301-855, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Galicia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iglesias
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Galicia, Spain.
authors.forename: Xesus
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8017-470X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feás
authors.affiliation: CIMO-Mountain Research Center, Agricultural College of Bragança, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Campus Santa Apolónia, Bragança 5301-855, Portugal.
authors.forename: Leticia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Estevinho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005515:Food Labeling; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: bee pollen; labeling rules; microbiological characterization; physicochemical characterization; pollinic analysis