PROFILE OF ANIMAL PROTEIN CONSUMERS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FISH CONSUMPTION IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF BRAZIL

The present study characterizes animal protein consumers, with emphasis on fish consumption in the semiarid region of Brazil. No significant differences were observed in our analysis of the frequency of fish consumption as a function of education level ( p =0.1362), with a mean consumption across all levels of 4.78±2.05 meals per month and a median of four meals per month. In the analysis of fish consumption as a function of age, gender, education level, income and product preference, in a multiple model, the most influential variable was found to be product preference ( P-value = 0.00005, Durbin-Watson = 2.0594), with no statistic difference regards to age, gender, schooling or income ( p = 0.6987). In semiarid´s region, there is a predominant preference for bovine, with fish being the third most consumed protein. It is essential to maintain and promote campaigns to encourage fish consumption, as well as to promote public investment in order to reduce production costs and, consequently, ensure that fish is always a readily available option for consumers. These and other actions are necessary in order to prevent the economic factor from becoming the deciding factor for consumption decisions, in the short, medium and long term.