Correlation between the nutritional value and price of eight species of fish marketed in the State of São Paulo

Abstract

The flesh of fish is rich in protein, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals and is considered an important food item, despite the low consumption in Brazil, compared to world average. As the price of fish, the nutritional value varies among species of higher consumption and the relationship between these two values is presented, in most cases, inversely proportional to the species most consumed. Data on some nutrients of eight species were collected using the Brazilian Table of Food Composition and correlated with average prices practiced in the Central Supply Warehouse and General of the State of São Paulo - CEAGESP in 2009. It was observed that the variables related to the nutritional value showed no significant correlation with the prices. It is assumed that prices vary due to the sensory attributes and market and cultural factors.