Effect of direct electric current on microbiological quality of white croaker (Micropogonias furnieri)

White croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) were submitted to a direct electric current post-mortem and stored refrigerated at 4°C for 16 days. Flesh and surface of electrically treated fish exhibited higher mesophilic bacteria counts than controls on the 3rd and on the 6th day of storage, respectively. Conversely, electrical treatment reduced flesh and surface psychrotrophic bacteria counts on the 12th and on the 16th day of storage, respectively. These changes had no influence on fish shelf life since they occurred when microbial counts were higher than the recommended limit for human consumption. Electrical treatment significantly reduced total count of mesophilic but did not affect psychrotrophic bacteria in the water used in fish treatment. These results suggest that although post-mortem application of electric current does not increase fish shelf life, it may reduce microbial counts in the water used in fish processing.