Abstract
Experiments were conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality and develop a quality index method (QIM) scheme for farmed pintado fish (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), with estimation of shelf life. Microbiological analyses showed that two samples of pintado fish were unacceptable for human consumption due to the presence of Salmonella spp. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in all six samples of pintado can be related with poor hygiene during handling, since S. aureus is a bacterium known to be carried by food handlers. A QIM scheme based on a total of 16 demerit points was developed. The QIM scheme proved to give a good description of the changes in whole fresh pintado during ice storage. The quality index (QI) evolved linearly with storage time in ice (R2 = 0.97). Results indicated that the shelf life of pintado fish (whole and gutted) stored in ice is about 13 days. Key words: Quality index method, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, freshwater fish, fish quality, shelf life, sensory analysis.
Highlights
The native freshwater fish species of Brazil are numerous and many of these species are important for commercial production in South America, with good potential for aquaculture
Microbiological analyses showed that two samples of pintado fish were unacceptable for human consumption due to the presence of Salmonella spp
The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in all six samples of pintado can be related with poor hygiene during handling, since S. aureus is a bacterium known to be carried by food handlers
Summary
The native freshwater fish species of Brazil are numerous and many of these species are important for commercial production in South America, with good potential for aquaculture. The pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), known as surubim, is a carnivorous species native of the Paraná River and São Francisco River basins. Pintado has a great commercial potential due to its size (it may reach 50 kg) and due to its clear and delicate flesh, which presents few inter-muscle bones (Campos et al, 2006; Tanamati et al, 2009). Due to over exploitation of the stocks, wild populations of pintado have been decreased in the last decade (Martino et al, 2002). Some commercial farms are achieving good growth rates in captivity.
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