ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF FROZEN FISH SOLD IN SOME SELECTED SELLING POINTS WITHIN MINNA METROPOLIS

Abstract

Three species of frozen fish were procured from three selling points (Akpojons Frozen Food Limited, Mallam
Abdullahi; and Abets and Sons) within Minna metropolis. The specimens were subjected to series of analyses to
assess the quality of the products with a view to establishing the safety of what consumers buy on daily basis.
Specimens procured were analyzed for proximate composition and microbiological analysis weekly for eight weeks.
The results from the proximate composition revealed that there was significant difference in moisture (p < 0.05).
The value for moisture ranged from 52.90 ± 1.46c to 68.14 ± 0.56a. The crude protein, lipid and ash content showed
no significant differences (p > 0.05). The value of crude protein ranged from 22.07 ± 1.82a to 25.83 ± 1.66a, lipid
content ranged between 3.57 ± 1.43a to 9.44 ± 0.51a and ash content ranged between 1.22 ± 0.04a to 1.87 ± 0.07a.
The microbial load ranged between 10.30 ± 0.68a to 19.17 ± 0.91a CFU/g. The study revealed that the conditions
under which the frozen fish were kept have a direct bearing on the quality of fish sold at the selling point