Assessment of quality and safety of red caviar of salmon fish

Abstract

The health of the body largely depends on the necessary goods in the human diet. Therefore, quality and safety indicators are essential in monitoring their suitability. Red salmon caviar is no exception; it is considered a valuable food product and, due to its high price – a delicacy. Typically, this type of product must meet all regulatory requirements, which allows it to be safely used in the human diet. In terms of nutritional value, red caviar contains complete proteins, easily digestible fats, minerals, and vitamins, and its content is superior to that of some types of food products, even fish meat. The article presents the results of studies of organoleptic, physico-chemical, and microbiological indicators and the content of preservatives in salmon red granular salted caviar of 1st and 2nd grades sold in retail chains and markets in the Kyiv region. The study was carried out in laboratory conditions at the Research Institute of Food Technologies and Technologies for processing livestock products of the BNAU and the central testing state laboratory of the State Consumer Service (Vishnevoe). All indicators were determined using different methods intended for each indicator. Therefore, it was found that the organoleptic indicators of red caviar in both varieties corresponded to standard values. The mass fraction of sodium chloride and hexamine was within the normal range and did not exceed the standard indicators: sodium chloride – 8,57 % and 7,14 %, respectively (grades 1 and 2); methenamine – 70 % and 60 %, respectively (grades 1 and 2). According to microbiological indicators, the experimental samples showed that the number of MAFAnM did not exceed 1×102 CFU/g in both varieties, and the presence of yeast and mold fungi was detected no more than 10 CFU 1,0 g, which is 3 times less than the norm. The content of preservatives E200 1st and 2nd grades of red caviar was 0,07 % and 0,04 %, and E210 (1st and 2nd grades) 0,05 % and 0,03 %. Thus, all studied samples of red granular salmon caviar meet standard values for all indicators of quality and food safety.