Fish Items Research Articles

Development of semi-finished fish products for the fast food industry

One of the segments of public catering market both abroad and in Russia is fast food products [1]. Restaurants of this format have a wide audience due to their loyal pricing policy, availability and constant new products [2]. In addition, the fast food industry, through various media and advertising, contributes to solving consumer problems related to lack of time, difficulty in preparation and ease of consumption. At the same time, fast food contributes to a decrease in the quality of nutrition and deterioration in the health of both young people and adults.The goal of the research is to identify consumer preferences in the segment of semi-finished fish products, evaluate their quality and develop recipes for fish products for fast food restaurants.The objectives of the research include marketing research of consumer preferences when choosing semi-finished fish products, assessing the quality of semi-finished fish products sold in retail trade and fast food establishments, and developing recipes for semi-finished fish products for the fast food industry. To conduct a social survey, Google-form has been used, organoleptic assessment has been carried out using 5-point grading scale; physicochemical indicators have been studied using standard methods.Using the results of marketing research, it has been established that semi-finished fish products in the form of fish cutlets and sticks are in demand; consumers want to see new fish items on the menu of fast food restaurants. According to organoleptic assessment and physical and chemical research, it has been found that the best consumer organoleptic properties are found in fish cutlets from fast food restaurants «Vkusno i Tochka», «Burger King» and fish sticks sold in the «Perekrestok» chain of stores. According to physicochemical indicators, the studied samples of semi-finished fish products do not exceed 2.5% in the amount of table salt, 71% moisture and 37% fat.As new items for the fast industry, recipes for semi-finished fish products were developed in the form of nuggets with the addition of processed cheese, pork fat and strips, from longitudinal strips of fish, breaded and deep-fried at a temperature of 180 ° C until golden brown.

Contribution of plant-based dairy and fish alternatives to iodine nutrition in the Swiss diet: a Swiss Market Survey

PurposeWith dairy products and fish being major sources of iodine in Switzerland, the growing popularity of plant-based alternatives may impact iodine nutrition. This study aimed to assess the iodine content in plant-based dairy and fish alternatives available in the Swiss market and compare them with conventional products.MethodsIn 2022, a market survey was conducted in Zurich, Switzerland, to identify the plant-based dairy and fish alternatives available and assess their iodine content. To evaluate the impact of plant-based alternatives on iodine consumption in Switzerland, we modeled dietary scenarios by substituting the intake of dairy and fish items with plant-based alternatives. In addition, we investigated fortification with calcium, vitamins B2, B12, and D.ResultsOut of 477 identified products, only four milk-alternative products were iodine fortified (median iodine concentration: 22.5 μg/100 ml). The median iodine concentration in unfortified plant-based alternatives was negligible compared to conventional dairy and fish products (milk: 0.21 vs 9.5 μg/100 ml; yogurt 0.36 vs 6.1 μg/100 g; cheese: 0.10 vs 20 μg/100 g; fish 0.50 vs 44 μg/100 g). Three portions of dairy per day as recommended by the Swiss Food Pyramid provide 25% of the RDA for iodine (150 μg/day), whereas substituting those with unfortified alternatives provides only 0.7% of the RDA.ConclusionOnly four out of 477 plant-based alternative products are iodine fortified in the Swiss market. Thus, the risk for consumers to miss out on the ca. 25% of the RDA for iodine by consuming plant-based alternatives is high, placing them at a risk for inadequate iodine intake.

Risk-benefit assessment of methylmercury and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids through fish intake by pregnant women in Shanghai, China: Findings from the Shanghai Diet and Health Survey.

Fish and shellfish contain nutrients essential for fetal health, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The concern of mercury (Hg) pollution limits fish consumption among women in pregnancy, which could adversely affect child development. This study aimed to conduct risk-benefit assessment and provide recommendations for fish intake by pregnant women in Shanghai, China. Secondary analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data from a representative sample of the Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) (2016-2017), China. Dietary intakes of Hg and DHA+EPA were calculated from the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) on fish items and 24hr recall record. Raw fish samples (59 common species of fish in Shanghai) were purchased in local markets and their concentrations of DHA, EPA and Hg were measured. Net IQ points gain was used to evaluate the health risk and benefit at a population level by FAO/WHO model. Recommended fish (i.e., high- DHA+EPA and low-level MeHg) were defined, and then the proportion of those hit 5.8 IQ points were simulated with their consumption frequency for 1, 2 and 3 times per week. The average consumption of fish and shellfish was 66.24g/d among pregnant women in Shanghai. The mean concentrations of Hg and EPA+DHA in fish species most commonly consumed in Shanghai were 0.179mg/kg and 0.374g/100g, respectively. Only 1.4% of the population exceeded the MeHg reference dose of 0.1μg/kg·bw/d, whereas 81.3% of those who did not meet the recommended daily intakes of 250mg EPA+DHA. In FAO/WHO model, the proportion of 28.4% reached the maximum IQ points gain. Along with the increase of "recommended fish" consumed, the simulated values of the proportion raised to 74.5, 87.3 and 91.9%, respectively. The pregnant women in Shanghai, China had an adequate fish consumption with low-level Hg exposure, but balancing the benefits of fish intake and risk of potential Hg exposure was still a challenge. It is necessary to define a local level of "recommended fish" consumption for developing dietary recommendations for pregnant women.

Microplastics contamination in commercial fish from Alexandria City, the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

Plastic waste is a major threat to various marine ecosystems. Due to being semi-enclosed basin with dense population, the Mediterranean Sea has been considered as a hot spot for plastic pollution. Alexandria was listed as one of the major cities contributing to plastic waste in the eastern Mediterranean basin. Accordingly, microplastics (MPs) abundance and composition were investigated in the digestive tracts of commercial fish species from two major fishing areas in Alexandria; Abu-Qir Bay and Eastern Harbor, which are affected by plastic pollution. The incidence and average densities of MPs were 91.8 ± 8.4% and 11.7 ± 9.5 items fish−1, similar to highly polluted regions in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. The average MPs concentration was significantly higher in Sparus aurata (38.3 ± 28.4 items fish−1) than all species, except for Siganus rivulatus and Boops boops. Polyethylene and poly ethylene-vinyl acetate were the dominant polymers in the fish digestive tracts. Four types of plastic polymers were recorded in Siganus rivulatus and five in Parupeneus macronemus. The dominance of glossy fragments (sizes <500 μm) in Abu-Qir Bay indicated land-based source of pollution from domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastes. The dominance of larger plastic filaments and colored fragments in the Eastern Harbor suggested secondary MPs, originating from the fragmentation of larger plastic items of sea-based sources, such as fishing and recreational activities.

School lunch acceptance in pre-schoolers. Liking of meals, individual meal components and quantification of leftovers for vegetable and fish dishes in a real eating situation in Italy

This study explored pre-schoolers’ liking (n = 127; age range 3-5) of meals and of individual dishes (34 meals; 55 dishes) served in a meal by tasting actual foods in the natural setting of the school canteen. The leftovers of each children and of vegetable and fish items were recorded and the relation between the uneaten amount, liking of and familiarity to these items was studied. Liking varied (p < 0.001) across meals and individual dishes. The most appreciated meals included: a) solid starch-based dishes with meat sauce and cheese, lean poultry meat, roast potatoes and fruit yogurt, fresh seasonal fruit, or fruit ice-cream. Least liked meals included vegetable soup (with pasta or rice) or pasta with zucchini or legumes, seafood, or cheese. Overall, fish and cheese were moderately liked, and vegetables were liked the least. First and second courses contributed the largest portion to overall meal acceptability. Liking of side dishes was uncorrelated to individual meal liking in most children. Children liking and reported familiarity by parents successfully predicted the amount of food eaten. Girls were more familiar to vegetable dishes and more likely to like and consume these dishes than boys. Children sex had no effect on fish consumption.

Perceptive on bacteriological quality in foods of animal origin sold in the local market: Potential threats for the perishable food supply chain

Background: Pre and post-harvest spoilage is becoming a severe concern not only in Pakistan but also worldwide. Foodborne illness remains prevalent throughout Pakistan because of the lack of informed risks and safe handling practices of the food preparers and handlers at each food chain point. It causes food spoilage that results in substantial economic losses to both producers (farmers) and consumers. Therefore, this article aimed to review the microbial load of meat, dairy, and seafood products and how the microbial load/population's shelf life and food quality can be affected.&#x0D; Methodology: During this experimental study, a total 127 samples were collected directly from different industries and included. Total bacterial count (TBC), total coliform count (TCC), fecal coliform count (FCC) and detection of Salmonella were done to check the quality of foods of animal origin collected from the different food industries from 2019 to 2020 and Pakistan standard (P.S.) of food quality was used to compare the results.&#x0D; Results: Among 127 analyzed samples, 27 (34.29%) samples were found contaminated with four bacterial parameters, TBC (6.35%), TCC (19%), and FCC (8.89%). At the same time, Salmonella spp were found absent in all of the samples analyzed. Among seven perishable food commodities, the higher percentage of unsatisfactory samples were observed in the chicken meat (1.62%) and beef meat samples (1.5%), while fresh milk was highly contaminated (0.9%) as compared to the powder milk (0.42%), followed by yogurt (0.26%). Shrimp (0.26%) and fish items (0.2%) showed the least percentage of unsatisfactory samples.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results suggest that a significant quality difference is observed in the food items sold in the central region of Karachi, further representing a vulnerability to human health in terms of bacteriological hazards. Our findings suggest that safety measures should be taken seriously to stay away from possible uncertainties.

Fish demand in Egypt: An analysis using Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS)

Egypt has a vast water area of about 13 million acres, and the amount of fish production capacity reached 1.82 million t in 2017. This represents an increase by 6.8% compared with 2016; however, the increase in population growth rate has caused a shortage in meeting consumers’ needs by about 15.47%. This research aims at estimating demand elasticity for Tilapia, Bayad, and Catfish in Egypt as they are the most important fish items prevalent in the Nile River. The results show that the demand for fish in Egypt is price inelastic. This means that price changes have a small impact on the quantity demanded of fish. In addition, tilapia was identified as a necessary fish item in Egypt. The Hicksian cross-price elasticities identified tilapia and bayad as substitutes for catfish. Keywords: Almost Ideal Demand System, Demand elasticity, Fish demand

Economic fish production inventory model for perishable fish items with the detoriation rate and the added value under pentagonal fuzzy number

In marine fishing, a considerable planning is required for developing socio-economic value of fishermen. This research explores the discussion in optimal fish manufacturing quantity for perishable fish items in the vessel during yachting. The rate of deterioration is treated as a Pentagonal Fuzzy Number (PFN) to obtain the optimal total cost. The convexity of the model is proved by satisfying the constraint equation in a fuzzy environment. An efficient procedure is applied to find the annual fish production quantity and the production in a single period to avoid the faulty measurement in the demand for fish items and the supply to the retailers. In addition, a few sensitivity analyses are carried out for the repair cost and the added value cost to indicate the existence of the total cost in the least possible range. Some managerial discrimination is also included.

Doneness preferences, meat and meat-derived heterocyclic amines intake, and N-acetyltransferase 2 polymorphisms: association with colorectal adenoma in Japanese Brazilians.

Intake of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and other mutagenic compounds formed during cooking has been hypothesized to be responsible for the positive association observed between red meat and colorectal cancer. We evaluated whether well-done/very well-done preferences for various meat and fish items, higher intakes of meat and fish, and meat-derived and fish-derived HCA are associated with the risk of colorectal adenoma (CRA) in a Japanese-Brazilian population. We selected 302 patients with adenoma and 403 control individuals who underwent total colonoscopy between 2007 and 2013, and collected information on aspects of meat intake using a detailed questionnaire. We also estimated HCA intake of the study participants using an HCA database that matched the cooking methods of this population. Latent class analysis on the basis of response to doneness preferences for different cooking methods of commonly consumed meat and fish items identified four distinct subgroups. Compared with the subgroup characterized by a preference for rare/medium well-done cooking for most meat and fish items, the odds ratio of CRA for the well-done/very well-done preference subgroup was 1.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.51-2.75). High intake of mixed-meat dishes was suggestively associated inversely with CRA, whereas a high intake of poultry was associated positively with CRA. No clear association with intake of total or specific HCAs and no effect modification by N-acetyltransferase 2 acetylation genotype were observed. We found no statistically significant associations between meat and HCA intake and CRA. These findings do not support a positive association between meat and meat-derived HCA intake and the risk of CRA.

Dietary differences between metabolically healthy overweight-obese and metabolically unhealthy overweight-obese adults.

The aim of the study is to determine the differences in dietary parameters (energy and nutrient intake, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and consumption of food groups) in metabolically healthy overweight-obese (MHOO) v. metabolically unhealthy overweight-obese (MUOO) middle-aged adults. A total of fifty-one middle-aged adults were classified as MHOO or MUOO. BMI and blood pressure were evaluated following the recommendations. HDL, TAG and blood glycaemia were measured in blood samples. Blood pressure was also assessed. Dietary factors were assessed through three 24-h recalls, a validated FFQ and the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire. All variables were evaluated between September and October 2016 and 2017. Our results showed that MHOO individuals registered a higher fish consumption (P = 0·035) and higher compliance (lower consumption) in the commercial sweets and confectionery item of the PREDIMED questionnaire (P = 0·036). No differences were noted in other dietary factors including energy and nutrient intake, consumption of other food groups and in the PREDIMED total score. A near-significant trend toward significance was observed in nuts consumption, wine and fish items of the PREDIMED questionnaire. In conclusion, higher fish consumption and a higher compliance in the commercial sweets and confectionery item of the PREDIMED questionnaire were observed in MHOO middle-aged adults.

Diet Composition and Feeding Strategy of Nemipterus japonicus Bloch, 1791 from Tha-baw-seik, Myanmar

Food composition of Nemipterus japonicus was studied by analyzing about 600 specimens from Tha-baw-seik (Lat. 14° 05' and long. 98° 05' E), Myanmar during October 2016 to September 2017. Based on the stomach content analysis, the relative importance index (IRI value) was calculated, and the predator feeding strategies were conducted during the study period. This study showed that N. japonicus is a generally demersal carnivore, and its trophic spectrum was composed of 23 food items. Among them, algae had not been described as a food item for N. Japonicus in the other previous studies. Crustaceans were the most dominant diet in the guts in term of the IRI value. Also, fish items were commonly the most dominant food followed by prawn, crab, and Acetes spp in all length groups but sex variation had no significant food changes with their IRI value.

Dietary Carcinogens and Cancer Risk: Findings From Japanese Studies

Background: Red meat and processed meat consumption are established risk factors for colorectal cancer. One hypothesized mechanism for this association is through exposure to heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), which are formed when meat is cooked at high temperature for a long duration. Although they are mutagenic and carcinogenic in nonhuman primates, the findings of epidemiologic studies that have specifically examined the association between HAA intake and colorectal cancer risk have been inconsistent. Moreover, since N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) has been shown to play a critical role in the bioactivation of HAAs, an interaction between HAA intake and NAT2 on colorectal cancer has been hypothesized and the findings in the previous studies have been inconsistent. Aim: To investigate the association of meat- and fish-derived HAA intake, which were estimated by our validated food frequency questionnaire and population-specific data on HAA contents in meat and fish items with the risk of colorectal adenoma, precursor of colorectal cancer, among middle-aged and elderly Japanese in Japan and Japanese Brazilians in Sao Paulo. In addition, to test the modifying effect of NAT2 on the association of HAA intake on colorectal adenoma risk. Methods: Tokyo adenoma study includes 738 patients with adenoma and 697 controls who underwent total colonoscopy in National Cancer Center, Japan. Brazil adenoma study includes 316 patients with adenoma and 403 controls who underwent total colonoscopy in 2 hospitals in Sao Paulo. HAA intake was estimated from meat and fish intake based on an HAA database that was validated against 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) values measured in human hair. NAT2 acetylation genotype was inferred using 2 SNPs in the NAT2 gene. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between HAA intake and colorectal adenoma risk after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Tokyo adenoma study showed that high intake of 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) and total HAA was significantly associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma in women but not in men. No clear association with PhIP or 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) intakes and no effect modification by NAT2 genotype was observed. Brazil adenoma study found no association for HAAs and no effect modification by NAT2 genotype. Conclusion: Tokyo Adenoma Study suggests that high MeIQ and total HAA intakes are positively associated with colorectal adenoma risk among Japanese women in Japan. However, Brazil adenoma study failed to observe positive associations. The possible explanations of inconsistent findings and the difficulty of the studies will be discussed.

Methylmercury levels in commonly consumed fish and methylmercury exposure of children and women of childbearing age in Hong Kong, a high fish consumption community

BackgroundDespite high fish consumption levels of Hong Kong residents, little is known about the MeHg exposure levels of Hong Kong high-risk populations (i.e. young children and women of childbearing age). ObjectivesTo investigate the MeHg levels in fish commonly consumed in Hong Kong and assess the exposure levels of local kindergarten children and women of childbearing age. MethodsA community-based survey was conducted in randomly recruited local kindergartens. The MeHg concentrations of the most commonly consumed fish items were measured. Based on their fish consumption data, subjects’ MeHg exposure levels were estimated and compared with the reference dose (RfD) set by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ResultsA total of 2917 mother-child pairs were recruited. The MeHg levels of the fish samples ranged from < 2–1498.7 ng/g. Six frozen cod fish samples contained MeHg levels exceeding the local legal limit of 500 ng/g. The median estimated MeHg intake for children and mothers were 0.29 and 0.22 µg/kg bw/wk, respectively. Approximately 16% children and 9% mothers exceeded the RfD. ConclusionsApart from frozen cod fish, most fish species commonly consumed in Hong Kong had low MeHg content. Although the majority of our subjects were exposed to low MeHg levels, high fish consumers could still exceed the RfD and are potentially at risk of MeHg toxicity. To avoid excessive MeHg exposure, we suggest that young children and their mothers may consume a variety of locally available fish, but avoid consumption of frozen cod fish.

Feeding patterns of the black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster in an invaded freshwater habitat

Syngnathus abaster is an euryhaline species, which has penetrated freshwaters in Europe and its range is expanding. The goal was to investigate the feeding patterns of this species in an invaded freshwater habitat, where it first appeared at the beginning of 1990s, with implications for assessing its possible effects on invaded ecosystems. In total, 36 prey items were identified in the diet of S. abaster. The most important prey were zooplanktonic organisms, among which copepods predominated significantly. The second most important prey were cladocerans, represented by 20 species/genera. The diet composition of this species showed clear seasonal dynamics but copepods remained the predominant prey item throughout the year. Significant positive relationships between the abundance of zooplanktonic organisms in the gut contents of S. abaster and their abundance in zooplankton samples were found for copepods and Ceriodaphnia sp. S. abaster showed a significant positive electivity for copepods throughout all months. It also positively selected some large cladocerans, which probably shared the same habitat. S. abaster also consumed fish items including gobiid larvae and its own juveniles, when they were abundant in May and especially in June. The possible effect of S. abaster on native ecosystems may include the shaping of zooplanktonic communities through selective predation on copepods. This species is unlikely to be a serious food competitor for native fish inhabiting European freshwaters, the majority of which are cyprinids. Nevertheless, it can have effects on some native fish through predation on their juveniles, which might share the same habitats.

Dietary Segregation of Four Ardeid Species Breeding in Anzali International Wetland, Northern Iran

Abstract. The nestling diets of four heron species breeding on a small forestry islet in Anzali, Iran, were investigated to determine the dietary segregation among sympatric breeders. Regurgitated samples from Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax), Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta), Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) and Squacco Herons (Ardeola ralloides) were collected during the breeding season from 23 May to 16 August 2016. A total of 1,606 prey items were identified representing 39 prey categories from nine different classes. Differences were detected among these four ardeid species for the percentage of each prey category. Fish dominated the regurgitates of the Blackcrowned Night-Heron (67%; n = 43 samples), Little Egret (45%; n = 33 samples) and Squacco Heron (53%; n = 10 samples), whereas arachnids and insects combined (53% and 40%, respectively, based on total number of individuals) and insects (61.9% based on weight) were the most common prey items for the Cattle Egret. Although fish items...

DHA mediates the protective effect of fish consumption on new episodes of depression among women.

In a longitudinal cohort study of young Australian adults, we reported that for women higher baseline levels of fish consumption were associated with reduced incidence of new depressive episodes during the 5-year follow-up. Fish are high in both n-3 fatty acids and tyrosine. In this study, we seek to determine whether n-3 fatty acids or tyrosine explain the observed association. During 2004-2006, a FFQ (nine fish items) was used to estimate weekly fish consumption among 546 women aged 26-36 years. A fasting blood sample was taken and high-throughput NMR spectroscopy was used to measure 233 metabolites, including serum n-3 fatty acids and tyrosine. During 2009-2011, new episodes of depression since baseline were identified using the lifetime version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Relative risks were calculated using log-binomial regression and indirect effects estimated using the STATA binary_mediation command. Potential mediators were added to separate models, and mediation was quantified as the proportion of the total effect due to the mediator. The n-3 DHA mediated 25·3 % of the association between fish consumption and depression when fish consumption was analysed as a continuous variable and 16·6 % when dichotomised (reference group: <2 serves/week). Tyrosine did not mediate the association (<0·1 %). Components in fish other than n-3 fatty acids and tyrosine might be beneficial for women's mental health.

English

The diet composition of the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) was studied by analyzing of 440 spraint samples collected during January, 2014 and December, 2015 in both dry and wet seasons from eight sites in and around Lake Tana, North West Ethiopia. Percentage frequency of occurrence and relative percentage frequency of diet items in the spraint samples were calculated.The statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests.The number of diet categories per spraint ranged from 1 to 4 with a mean of 1.42 ± 0.591. Fish was the dominant prey item in all sites with an overall frequency of occurrence of 84.77% and a relative percentage frequency of 59.68%. Labeobarbus spp. was the most frequent fish prey (35.45%). Crabs were the second most frequent prey items with percentage frequency of 33.41% and a relative percentage frequency of 23.52%, while small mammals and birds were the least frequent dietary items with percentage frequency of 0.45 and 0.23%, respectively. Other identified diet items and the respective percentage frequency were plant matter (6.17%), insects (5.68%), amphibians (5%), mollusks (2.5%) and unidentified items (3.86%). Variation on fish and crab prey items were observed between seasons and sites, while no variation was observed for other prey items. The results suggested a dietary flexibility and shift in the African clawless otter from crabs to fish that can be explained by availability and accessibility. Key words: African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis, food items, Lake Tana.

Factors Affecting Salmon Preferences of Alaska Children and Their Parents

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;This study taste tests three newly developed salmon recipes made from the low-grade Chum salmon and uses data collected from parents and students in Fairbanks, Alaska to understand: 1) factors to change the consumption preference of parents and their children’s salmon choice? 2) How different the opinions are from parents than their children in salmon consumption? And 3) how the new recipes are accepted and factors that affect the attitude to improve the recipes. Preliminary statistics and Probit results show that: 1) most students and parents thought the fish items were appealing and they were willing to taste the recipes. 2) According to the appearance and taste of the products, students rated the salmon burger as most preferred, followed by the salmon patty, and the salmon ball. And 3) Parents rated the three products in the same preference order, but their preference seems to be affected by good flavor, texture, and appropriate saltiness. Findings from this study provide insightful information to help school food service directors and parents understand factors to affect students’ salmon choice and to improve their salmon consumption.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;!--EndFragment--&gt; liability, assurance and empathy factors of service quality. The results of this study are only applicable to the Australian residential market and may not be universally applicable, which is considered a limitation.&lt;/p&gt;

Feeding habits of blue swimming crab Portunus segnis (Forskal, 1775) in the northern coastal waters of Iran

The study of food and feeding habits of crab has manifold importance in fishery sciences. The blue swimming crab Portunus segnis is an opportunistic predator and the diet of which depends on local availability of food items. The distribution and biological aspects of crabs are largely dependent on the availability of preferred prey organisms. Feeding habits of the blue swimming crab, P. segnis were studied in the northern Persian Gulf by trawl nets during the period from May 2010 to April 2012. The stomach contents of 1722 crabs, ranging from 36 to 175 mm carapace width, were analyzed. The stomach contents appeared to consist of mainly large quantities crustaceans, fish and molluscs, also small quantities of unidentifiable matter and debris. Based on the major food groups were observed in different season, the crustaceans was the most dominant in summer (56 %) and the fish items and Mollusca were the most dominant in autumn (67 %) and winter (45 %) respectively. In Juvenile and sub adult crabs, crustaceans constituted the dominant food source and these were present in 56.7 % and 45.1 % respectively. In the adult groups and larger size groups, fish were the principal food item and these were present in 44.5 % and 53.5 % respectively, of the stomachs analyzed. There were no difference observed in the quantity of the food consumed in both sexes and also significant differences observed in the preference for food items in the different size groups. The crabs without barnacle comparatively voracious with barnacle-carrying crabs. Their diet also increased with increasing ovary stages while that the percentage of empty stomachs in ovigerous females was higher than non-ovigerous females. The C.V. index varied significantly in both sex that was ranged between 6.9- 56.0 % and 16.5- 48.0 % for male and female, respectively. This study shows that, despite the diversity in blue crab diets and feeding habits, there are carnivores with a preference for animal food and the behavior of active predators of sessile and slow-moving macro-invertebrates. It is suggested that a major reduction in availability of one prey group would not have a major effect on the crab population.

Fish consumption and frying of fish in relation to type 2 diabetes incidence: a prospective cohort study of Swedish men

PurposeEpidemiological evidence on the association between fish consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes is heterogeneous across geographical regions. Differences related to fish consumption pattern could possibly help explain the discrepancy between the findings. We therefore aimed to investigate the association between fish consumption (total, fried, specific fish items) and type 2 diabetes incidence, taking exposure to contaminants present in fish (polychlorinated biphenyls and methyl mercury) into consideration.MethodsThe population-based Cohort of Swedish Men, including 35,583 men aged 45–79 years, was followed from 1998 to 2012. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsDuring 15 years of follow-up, 3624 incident cases were identified. Total fish consumption (≥4 servings/week vs. <1 serving/week) was not associated with type 2 diabetes in multivariable-adjusted analysis (HR 1.00; 95 % CI 0.85–1.18); however, a statistically non-significant inverse association was observed after adjustment for dietary contaminant exposures (HR 0.79; 95 % CI 0.60–1.04). Fried fish (≥6 servings/month vs. ≤1 servings/month) and shellfish consumption (≥1 serving/week vs. never/seldom) were associated with HRs of 1.14 (95 % CI 1.03–1.31) and 1.21 (95 % CI 1.07–1.36), respectively.ConclusionsWe observed no overall association between total fish consumption and type 2 diabetes. The results indicated that dietary contaminants in fish may influence the relationship. Fried fish and shellfish consumption were associated with higher type 2 diabetes incidence. These findings suggest that more specific advice on fish species sub-types (varying in contamination) and preparation methods may be warranted.