The behavior of catfish traders on the food safety perspective in Malang Markets, Indonesia

Abstract

Catfish markets in Malang are supported by catfish farmers in Tulungagung regency, delivered every two days, and distributed to 37 catfish traders in 16 traditional Markets. The study aimed to understand the behavior of catfish traders in traditional markets in Malang City in terms of food safety. Our deep interviews regarding catfish disease showed that the understanding of catfish traders was the dead catfish (97.3%), the skin wound of catfish was not caused by bacteria (97.3%), unnecessary to separate unsold catfish from the new one (94.6%), not necessarily in water replacement at catfish shelter (87.5%), no sanitation of containers and equipment prior opening stalls (97.3%), no sanitizing containers and equipment with water and soap when closing stalls (18.9%) and using sanitizing work equipment to prevent bacteria contamination (0%). The guaranteed replacement of dead catfish from the supplier (100%), catfish trading knowledge from relatives (89%), elementary school background of catfish traders (81.1%), and no consumer complaints (94.6%) were fundamental things in the behavior of catfish traders in a food safety perspective. From the swab test of catfish, skin wounds were found Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella typhosa, and Proteus mirabilis.