QUALITY INDEX METHOD: SHELF LIFE OF WHOLE WHITEMOUTH CROAKERS (Micropogoniasfurnieri, Linnaeus, 1766) STORED IN ICE
quality, QIM, Micropogoniasfurnieri
Sensory analysis is an important method for assessing the freshness and quality of fish, which contributes to inspection services, the fisheries sector as well as consumers. The protocol known as the Quality Index Method (QIM) is considered a promising method in assessing fish freshness in an objective and fast way. The whitemouth croaker (Micropogoniasfurnieri, LINNAEUS 1766) has great commercial value, sustaining the fishing sector throughout the western Atlantic, and given its availability and sensorial quality has great exploratory potential, being appreciated in the gastronomy and the sport fishing. Considering this potential for growth in the commercial exploitation of the whole whitemouth croaker, it is necessary to carry out studies regarding the sensorial, physic-chemical and microbiological quality after its capture and commercialization. The first step for the development of the QIM scheme for whole whitemouth croaker stored in ice will be training of the judges. Training will be conducted on the first batch captured, where three fish will be evaluated individually. The protocol will be applied until the twenty-fourth day of ice storage or until their loss of freshness or rejection for consumption, in the same time intervals. Three specimens will be exposed to be evaluated together to simulate a batch analysis. Next to the storage until the twenty-fourth day in ice will be carried out the analyzes of Total Count of Mesothophic Aerobic and Mesothophic Bacteria. The analyzes of centesimal composition (moisture, protein, lipids and ashes) will be performed in triplicate from three copies on the first day and another three on the twenty-fourth day of the period of ice storage, collected from the musculature of the back region. As a result of the present study, it is expected to establish the self life (in days) of the whole whitemouth croaker and to know the centesimal, physic-chemical and microbiological composition of the whole whitemouthcroaker stored in the ice during the 24 days.