Bacterial counts and quality of iced fish retailed at a Lusaka market, Zambia.

Abstract

Summary. The counts of total viable, coliform, streptococcal and sulphite reducing anaerobic bacteria and the presence of salmonellae were determined on 134 iced fish obtained from Luburma Market, Lusaka, Zambia, during June‐December 1970. The quality of the uncooked fish was also assessed by appearance and odour. The purpose of these determinations was to obtain a picture of the variations of the bacterial counts in relation to season, origin, fish species and market quality. Total viable and coliform counts were of the order of millions and tens of thousands/cm2 of skin surface, respectively. Higher counts were obtained in the hot season during September‐October but with little change in appearance of the fish. There was a significant correlation (P < 0·01) of both total viable and coliform bacteria with quality scores. A maximum permissible level of 107 cells/cm2 of skin surface was proposed for total viable counts and 105/cm2 for coliform bacteria, for iced fish of acceptable quality in Zambia.