The current study aimed to evaluate the safety aspects of 30 samples of hearts of palm in conserve from 10 different Brazilian commercial brands by determining the pH value and evaluating the adequacy of the labels with respect to the labeling norms defined in current Brazilian legislation. The results showed that none of the 30 samples analyzed showed pH values above 4.5, being in accordance with the value specifed in the legislation. On the other hand, 90% of the brands failed to conform to current labeling norms with respect to one or more parameters, showing that monitoring programs should be carried out periodically by the sanitary vigilance authorities. © 2008 IFRJ.172453459Berbari, S.A.G., Prati, P., Junqueira, V.C.A., Industrial adaptability of the heart of palm from Archontophoenix alexandrae and A. Cunninghamiana (2008) Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos, 28 (SUPPL.), pp. 135-141Berbari, S.A.G., Bovi, M.L.A., Vicente, E., Oliveira, L.A.T.T., Quality of heart palm of Australian real cultivars designated to processing (2003) Proceedings of 43° Brazilian Congress of Olericulture Recife, pp. 14-17. , Brazil: Brazilian Society of OlericultureBianco, M.I., Luquez, C., Jong, L.I.T., Fernandez, R.A., Presence of Clostridium botulinum in Matricaria chamomilla (chamoile) and its relations with infant botulism (2008) International Journal of Food Microbiology, 121 (3), pp. 357-360(2003), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php, Brazil. Resolution n° 81 of 14/04/2003. Downloaded from. on 3/25/2009(2003), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php, Brazil. Resolution n° 360, de 23/12/2003. Downloaded from ?id=9059&word on 3/25/2009(2003), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php, Brazil. Law n° 10.674, of 12/05/2003. Downloaded from ?id=5854&word on 3/25/2009(2002), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php?id=1261&word, Brazil. Resolution n° 259 of 20/09/2002. Downloaded from on 3/25/2009(1999), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php?id=1384, Brazil. Resolution n° 17, 19/11/1999. Downloaded from on 3/25/2009(1999), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php?id=1295, Brazil. Resolution n° 18 of 19/11/1999. on 3/25/2009(1999), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php?id=11400&word=, Brazil. Resolution n° 362 de 29/07/1999. Downloaded from on 3/25/2009(1999), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php, Brazil. Resolução n° 363 of 29/07/1999. Downloaded from on 3/25/2009(1999), http://e-legis.anvisa.gov.br/leisref/public/showAct.php, Brazil. Resolution n° 304, 08/04/1999. Downloaded from on 3/25/2009Carlin, F., Broussolle, V., Perelle, S., Litman, S., Fach, P., Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in food raw materials used in REPFEDs manufactured in France (2004) International Journal of Food Microbiology, 91 (2), pp. 141-145Chaimsohn, F.P., (2002) Cultivation of peach palm and production of heart palm, , Viçosa, Brazil: Aprenda FácilGiovanna, F., Pourshaban, M., Gianfranceschi, M., Gattuso, A., Fenicia, L., Ferrini, A.M., Mannoni, V., Aureli, P., Clostridium botulinum spores and toxin in Mascarpone cheese and other milk (1999) Journal Food Protection, 62 (8), pp. 869-871Hosseini, H., Tavakoli, H.R., Meshgi, M.A., Khasar, R., Hosseini, M., Khakpour, M., Survey of Clostridium botulinum toxins in Iranian traditional food products (2009) Comparative Clinical Pathology, , in press. DOI: 10.1007/s00580-009-0865-0(2005) Instituto Adolfo Lutz analytical techniques: Physical and chemical methods of food analysis, , IAL - Instituto Adolfo Lutz. São Paulo: Instituto Adolfo LutzJohnson, E.A., Neutoxigenic clostridia in Fischetti (2000) Gram-positive Pathogens, pp. 539-550. , V.A. , Novick, P.P., Ferreti, J.J., Portnoy, D.A. and Rodd, J.I. (Eds.). Washington, USA: ASM PressKoepke, R., Sobel, J., Arnon, S.S., Global Occurrence of Infant Botulism, 1976-2006 (2008) Pediatrics, 122 (1), pp. 73-82Kuplulu, O., Goncuoglu, M., Ozdemir, H., Koluman, A., Incidence of Clostridium botulinum spores in honey in Turkey (2006) Food Control, 17 (3), pp. 222-224Lalitha, K.V., Surendram, P.K., Occurrence of Clostridium botulinum in fresh and cured fish in retail trade in Cochin (India). International (2002) Journal of Food Microbiology, 72 (1-2), pp. 169-174(2001) HACCP: Instrumento essencial para a inocuidade de alimentos, , Pan American Institute of Food Protection-INPPAZ. Buenos Aires, Argentina: OPAS/INPPAZRall, V.L.M., Bombo, A.J., Lopes, T.F., Carvalho, L.R., Silva, M.G., Honey consumption in the São Paulo State: A risk to human health? (2003) Anaerobe, 9 (6), pp. 299-303Rhodehamel, E.J., Reddy, N.R., Pierson, M.D., Botulism: The causative agent and its control in foods (1992) Food Control, 3 (1), pp. 125-143Rodas, M.A.B., Marsiglia, D.A.P., Rodrigues, R.S.M., Processed Heart Palm: Sanitary aspects according the Brazilian Legislation (2005) Proceedings of XIV Brazilian Meeting on Food Analysis, p. 173. , Goiânia: Goiás, Brazil(2004), http://www.cve.saude.sp.gov.br/htm/hidrica/dta_estat.htm, São Paulo. Epidemiological Surveillance Center. Division of foodborne and waterborne transmission. Botulism: São Paulo State and Brazil - Suspected and confirmed cases reported to the Reference Centre of botulism - CR Bot among 1999 -2004. Downloaded from. on 3/6/2009Tseng, C.-H., Tsai, C.-H., Tseng, C.-H., Tseng, Y.-C., Lee, F.-Y., Huang, W.-S., An outbreak of foodborne botulism in Taiwan (2009) International Journal of Hygiene Environmental Health, 212 (1), pp. 82-86Verruma-Bernardi, M.R., Cavalcanti, A.C.D., Kajishima, S., Acceptability of the palm of pupunha (2003) Boletim do CEPPA, 21 (1), pp. 121-130