Theshelf life of sardines of Sardinella brasiliensis and Cetengraulis edentulus species kept on ice at +2°Cwas determined by physical-chemical, bacteriological and sensory parameters. In both samples, the levels of Total Volatile Bases (TVB) and Trimethylamine (TMA) reached the limits recommended by law (30mg N 100g-1 for TVB and 4mgN100g-1 for TMA) after 14 and 8 days of storage, respectively. The contents of histamine, putrescine and cadaverine remained at levels below 2.0µg g-1 in both samples during the storage period. The hypoxanthine production ranged from 0.65 to 2.62µmol g-1 in samples of S. brasiliensis and 1.40 to 2.09µmol g-1 in samples of C. edentulus. The initial count of Enterobacteriaceae was 3.81logCFU g-1 and 3.82logCFU g-1 reaching, after 18days of storage, 6.57logCFU g-1 and 6.87logCFU g-1, in samples of S. brasiliensis and C. edentulus, respectively. For heterotrophic bacteria aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic count the limit of 7logCFU g-1 recommended by international legislation was reached after12 and 8days of storage in samples of S. brasiliensis and after 12 and 6days of storage in samples of C. edentulus, respectively. The quality index method suggested for samples of S. brasiliensis, a limit of acceptable consumption less than 11 and for samples of C. edentulus a limit of acceptability below 14. As a result of this study, we recommend a shelf life of ten days for the S. brasiliensis and nine days for the C. edentulus.
Sardinella brasiliensis; Cetengraulis edentulus; QIM; hypoxanthine; biogenic amines; quality
