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Article History

Received: 2 January 2026

Accepted: 17 April 2026

First Online: 1 May 2026

Declarations

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: This study involved a low-risk, non-interventional survey focused on consumer handling and consumption of ready-to-eat smoked fish, a commercially available food product. In accordance with the Department of Microbiology Postgraduate Board of Studies policies, formal institutional ethics committee review was not required, as the study did not involve human experimentation, clinical or invasive procedures, biological sample collection, or the acquisition of sensitive or personally identifiable information.The survey was conducted anonymously, and no information capable of identifying individual participants was collected. Data obtained were limited to general, non-sensitive demographic characteristics such as age range, gender, and education level, which were not linked to individual identities in any form.Despite exemption from formal ethics review, the study adhered to best research practices and the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki as applicable to non-interventional research. Prior to participation, all respondents received a clear explanation of the study’s objectives, procedures, and the voluntary nature of participation. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before completion of the questionnaire, and individuals who did not provide consent were excluded. Participants were informed that aggregated findings would be used for academic publication. As no identifiable participant data are presented in this manuscript, consent to publish individual data was not required. All responses were handled confidentially and used solely for research purposes.