Abstract
Objective: Verify the hygienic-sanitary conditions of its commercialization in public markets before, during and after the period of Holy Week in public markets in the state of Ceará. Methods: An investigative, longitudinal, observational study was conducted through visual analysis based on checklist, based on Ministry of Health rules. Data collection took place monthly in public markets in four municipalities of the state of Ceará, for three months. Results: The observations show a high rate of nonconformities before, during and after the period. Among the contamination risk factors are faults in the hygiene of utensils, in the hygiene practices of the handlers and the presence of contaminating mechanical vectors. Conclusion: The commercialization of fish in public markets indicates conditions that offer risks of contamination to the fish, and may not be safe to the consumer's health. These findings may present the health authorities of the state of Ceará with an overview of the reality of the commercialization of fish both on commemorative dates and throughout the year, thus stimulating training with managers and traders, as well as hygienic-sanitary restructuring a public markets for the food security of the population.