Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the trade and the quality of fish sold at the municipal market of São Francisco do Conde, Bahia
Methods: An exploratory study was carried out using quantitative methods including questionnaires from six vendors and obtaining microbiological and physical chemistry samples of 72 fresh and processed fish, comprising of: 12 sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), 12 mullet (Mugil brasiliensis), 12 shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti), 12 oysters (Crassotea rhizophorae), 12 mussels (Mytella ssp) and 12 crabs (Callinectes spp).
Results: The respondents had a mean age of 38.3 years, most of whom had not completed the equivalent of a first grade high school education (83.3%), with a monthly income range of between one to three times that of the minimum wage, all of whom declared themselves as heads of households. With regards to trade, there was poor infrastructure and poor building maintenance in the market area, with hygiene inadequacies associated to the market environment, equipment and utensils. Among the samples taken, there were non-compliant rates of 41.6% (30) for Escherichia coli and 26.6% (19) for coagulase positive staphylococci, Salmonella spp was not identified. Overall, half (36) of the samples analyzed, failed to meet microbiological standards. As for the presence of physicochemical properties, there was a non-compliance of 52.7% for pH levels and 27.7% for total volatile bases. Considering these distinct patterns, 76.3% (55) of the samples were classified as non-compliant.
Significance: The results highlight health-related concerns in the selling of fish, signifying the need for intervention in order to support the supply chain and reinforce food and nutrition security at local levels.