Comparing raw and pasteurized milk in all the municipalities
analyzed (Table 3), there were no statistically significant differences
between the average counts of total coliforms, Escherichia coli and
mesophiles (p > 0.05). In the case of thermo tolerant coliform counts,
there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05), with the raw
milk showing greater contamination with this microorganism when
compared with pasteurized milk (Table 4).