Freshness Assessment and Shelf-Life Prediction for Seriola dumerili from Aquaculture Based on the Quality Index Method.

Jorge Freitas,José S Câmara,Paulo Vaz-Pires

doi:10.3390/molecules24193530

Jorge Freitas, José S Câmara + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24193530

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Abstract

Fish and fish-based products are easily perishable foods due to different factors, including fragile organization, abundant endo-enzymes, psychrophilic bacteria, and impact of pre-harvest operations, that contribute to reducing its value. Therefore, a timely effective method for fish freshness and shelf-life evaluation is important. In this context, this study aimed to develop a sensory scheme based on the Quality Index Method (QIM) (sensory table and point system) for freshness monitorization and shelf-life prediction for Seriola dumerili from aquaculture in Madeira Island. Evaluation of appearance, texture, eyes, and gills was performed during 20 days of storage on ice (0 ± 1 °C). The shelf-life prediction was supported by the analysis of microorganisms (total viable colonies, TVC, counts), texture (Torrymeter), and production of trimethylamine (TMA), evaluated by HS-SPME–GC–MS and validated according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists AOAC guidelines. The result is a QIM scheme with 25 demerit points, where zero indicates total freshness. From the integration of sensory analysis, microbial growth at the time of rejection (TVC, 108 cfu/cm2 and H2S producers, 107 cfu/cm2), texture (Torrymeter value < 8), and TMA analyses (>12.5 mg/100 g), shelf-life was estimated as 12 days (±0.5 days). The obtained results show the high-throughput potential of the developed method for fish freshness assessment and shelf-life prediction. This QIM scheme is a secure way to measure quality and provide users with a reliable standardized fish freshness measure.

Highlights

The European aquaculture sector is dominated by long-established species such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) [1]
The results showed that the obtained linear regression model had an estimation average equations of observed and predicted values were subjected to the partial least-squares (PLS)
Fresh greater amberjack (GrA) specimens were acquired from Ilhapeixe SA (IP) aquaculture facilities in Ribeira

Summary

Introduction

The European aquaculture sector is dominated by long-established species such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) [1]. To diversify the product offer, several attempts have been made to introduce new species at the pilot scale or production level in Mediterranean aquaculture [2]. Molecules 2019, 24, 3530 its diffusion in the circumglobal temperate area [3]. It is known as greater amberjack (GrA) and by other common names in European territory (Table 1). In the Mediterranean, GrA production in 2012 was approximately 2 tons, most from wild capture, with hatchery-produced individuals in Malta and some from production efforts in Greece, Spain, Italy, and Cyprus [4]. The conduction of several studies regarding the fatty acid composition of wild and reared fish [5], reproduction [6], feed formulation [7], rearing conditions [8], and handling effects [9] has led to important improvements to overcome some bottlenecks of the European aquaculture industry and GrA aquaculture development

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