Effect of gamma irradiation on the microbiological quality and shelf life of Engraulis encrasicolus in Ghana

The effect of irradiation on microbial load and shelf-life of anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus) was assessed in this study.Irradiation doses used in the study were 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 kGy.The assessment was carried out at 3 weeks intervals for the period of 9 weeks.Samples were analyzed for microbial load (total viable count, total coliform count and Staphylococcus aureus).Smoked samples were more contaminated as compared to sun-dried samples from both locations.A dose dependent effect was observed in all the samples obtained from both Chorkor and Keta (p<0.05).Samples from Keta were less contaminated for both smoked and sundried samples as compared to the samples from Chorkor whether sun dried or smoked (p<0.05).At 2.5 kGy, microbial load levels (CFU/g) for total viable count, total coliform count and S. aureus were below the standard (CFU/g of microbial load) set by the Ghana Standards Authority for microbial load in fish.This dose is the most appropriate dose for the decontamination and shelf extension of anchovy from Ghana.