Comparative assessment of dried fish quality collected from market and drying centre at Kuakata in Patuakhali, Bangladesh

The study identified the quality differences of dried Chinese pomfret (Stromateus chinensis), Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus) and ribbon fish (Trichiurus haumela) from market and drying center at Kuakata, Patuakhali. The sensory, nutritional and microbial quality of collected dried samples were evaluated following organoleptic quality index, standard AOAC and aerobic plate count methods, respectively. Organoleptically no significant difference found between the samples from market and drying center. The highest moisture content value was obtained in Bombay duck (29.78%) from the market and lowest value in Chinese pomfret (20.06%) from drying center. The highest and lowest protein content was in Chinese pomfret (60.73%) and Bombay duck (47.9%) from drying center and market, respectively. The lipid and ash content varied from 2.85% to 7.20% and 13.98% to 19.57% for all the dried fish species collected from both sites. Microbiologically, higher aerobic plate count (APC), total E. coli count (TEC) and total Salmonella count (TSC) were found in Chinese pomfret at 1.96×106 CFU/g, 3.98×105 CFU/g and 1.62×105 CFU/g from market and lowest count found in Bombay duck at 5.05×105, 2.22×105 and 0.81×105 from drying center, respectively. In ribbon fish no Salmonella sp. was found. Based on the sensory and nutritional quality the study conclude that among three species and two sites studied, the dried Bombay duck from the fish drying center had better quality characteristics than the counter parts. However, higher microbial load especially pathogenic TSC and TEC suggests to improve hygiene and sanitary practices, better market distribution and storage facilities need to be followed by the producers for safe and quality dried fishery products.