July 2015 Vol.3 No.1

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Original Research Article

Microbial Quality of Salted Dried Fish Sold Near Caspian Sea, Iran

Barat Ali Zarei Yam¹, Morteza Khomeiri², Sahar Amirkhani³ and Maryam Sabagh³

¹Msc of Food Science and Technology, Gorgan University of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, 49138-15739, Iran
²Department of Food Science and Technology, Gorgan University of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, 49138-15739, Iran
³Bachelor student of food science and technology, Department of Food Science and Technology at Baharan Institute of higher education

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: alizarei1662@gmail.com
Tel: 989378212956

Accepted July 13, 2015

Abstract

Moisture, pH, NaCl and microbial counts of salted dried fish at Golestan Province near Caspian Sea, Iran, were studied. Results showed that moisture, pH and NaCl of samples were ranged from 12.8-44.4%, 5.9-6.07 and 4.16-5.36% respectively. Total count, Yeast and molds, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, Aerobic spores, Anaerobic spores (clostridia spp), Psychrophilic bacteria, Lactic acid bacteria, Halophilic microorganisms, Salmonalla and Shigella count were ranged from 2.2 × 10 ³ -3.2 × 10 ⁴, 0 -6 × 10 ² , 0- 9.8× 10 ² , 0- 6.7× 10 ¹ , 3.8× 10 ¹ - 6× 10 ³, 2× 10 ¹ - 5× 10 ² , 1× 10 ¹ - 4× 10 ¹ , 0- 4× 10 ¹ , 4× 10 ² -3× 10 ³ , 0- 2× 10 ¹ and 0.4× 10 ¹-1.2× 10 ² respectively. Decrease the moisture and pH of samples leaded to decrease the microbial counts but the high content of NaCl in salted fishes induced halophillic bacteria, hence halophillic bacteria count were high. Assessment of the microbiological quality of salted dried fish in the Goestan Province, Iran, showed that the conditions for their production and sale were poor and suggested that producers and vendors follow good hygiene practices. Some pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. in the samples are harmful, also anaerobic spores could be spores of pathogenic Clostridium botulinum type E or Clostridium perfringens. It is therefore important that actions be taken to improve the sanitation.

Key words: Salted Dried Fish, Moisture, Microbial count. Staphylococcus aureus, sanitation.