POST HARVEST LOSS ASSESSMENT OF FRESHWATER PRAWN:: BY USING ORGANOLEPTIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES

Freshwater prawn, locally called Golda (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is important aquaculture product of Bangladesh and the consumer at home and abroad prefers Golda for its taste, size and color. Lack of proper knowledge, negligence about sanitation and quality related factors at different stages of handling, transportation and processing results low graded frozen prawn and huge qualitative and quantitative losses. In this study, selected prawn farms and depots were surveyed and present status of post-harvest handling, storage, transportation and distribution of M. rosenbergii was studied. Studies were also conducted to evaluate the quality changes of M. rosenbergii obtained from farms and depots by considering their organoleptic, biochemical and microbiological aspects. Bacteriological analysis was also conducted according to the method of American Public Health Association (AOAC, 1984) to identify the sources, and determine the extent of contamination of freshwater prawn by Salmonella and Escherichia coli. So, this book will be helpful for those who are interested about seafood, seafood quality management and methods of assessing their qualitative and quantitative losses.