Effect of CO2 on Chemical and Microbial Changes of Pacific White Shrimp During Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study monitored the physical, chemical, and sensory quality of raw Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and the evolution of microbial flora under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with varying concentrations of CO2 (95% CO2/5% O2; 80% CO2/15% N2/5% O2; 65% CO2/30% N2/5% O2) at 4°C during 10-day storage. Plate counts on selective agars indicated that MAP had a strong inhibitory effect on psychrotrophic bacteria, mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and H2S-producing bacteria. Analyses with molecular techniques (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, DGGE) by extracting bacterial DNA from shrimp samples showed that Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. were predominant in fresh MAP samples. Shewanella putrefaciens, which dominated in samples stored in air, were found sporadically in MAP samples. Interestingly, lactic acid bacteria were not predominant in MAP samples, whose pH values were high (6.66 to 8.14) during storage. The content of total volatile basic nitrogen in MAP samples was about 10 mg N/g lower than the control at the end of storage. Higher lightness values and sensory scores were also observed in samples under MAP. However, MAP with CO2 concentrations higher than 80% did not enhance the inhibitory effect on bacterial growth but induced more severe reddening and sensory quality loss.