Microbiological quality of pre-cooked seafood marketed in Santa Catarina Island, Brazil Qualidade microbiológica de frutos do mar pré-cozidos comercializados na Ilha de Santa Catarina, Brasil

The present study assessed the microbiological quality of pre-cooked and refrigerated seafood marketed in Santa Catarina Island, Brazil. Forty-eight samples of crabs, mussels, shrimp and clams were purchased at fish markets in Santa Catarina Island from June to September 2008. Microbiological analysis were conducted for total counts of psychrotrophic, coliforms at 45 °C, Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Salmonella spp. detecting. All of analyzed samples showed absence of Salmonella spp. in 25g. Two (4.2%) samples exceeded the counting limits of coliforms at 45 °C (one of mussel and one of crab meat), and nine (18.75%) samples (five of clams and four of crab meat) exceeded the limits for coagulase-positive staphylococci. The psychrotrophic counts were high in all products analyzed. Positive correlations were found between coliforms counting at 45 °C and Escherichia coli, but no correlation was found between Enterococcus spp. and coliforms at 45 °C or Escherichia coli. This study evidenced that about 20% of the samples were not comply with the sanitary standards established by the Brazilian legislation.