Ice fish (Protosalanx spp. and Neosalanx spp.) and rare fish species (Sardinia pilchardus and Aphiaminuta): Microbiological evaluation for hygienic health assessment and consumer protection.

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in consumer demand for fishery products from aquaculture or imported from foreign countries. In this study, microbiological parameters (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, Vibrio paraheaemolyticus, Escherichia coli, and enumeration of mesophilic and psychrotrophic microorganisms) regarding fish belonging to Protosalanx spp. and Neosalanx spp. (imported from China), Sardina pilchardus juveniles (also known as “bianchetto”), and Aphia minuta (called “rossetto”) were evaluated. Imported fish often replace morphologically similar species with a greater commercial value.