Influence of good manufacturing practices on the shelf life of refrigerated fillets of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) packed in modified atmosphere and gamma-irradiated

Optimizing UVC-LED application to improve the shelf life of vacuum-packed refrigerated stored Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets

Although ultraviolet-C light-emitting diode (UVC-LED) has proven antimicrobial effectiveness doses needed to reach it cause adverse effects on the physicochemical quality of fish, and thus, optimization studies are crucial to boost its industrial application. This study aimed to identify optimal UVC-LED conditions for maximum shelf life extension with the least possible quality changes of refrigerated stored tilapia fillets from a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). UVC-LED powers (1, 1.38, and 1.58 mW/cm2 ) and times (500, 1800, and 2700 s) were set on the CCRD, which generated 11 treatments, including three replicate experiments. Treatments were analyzed for total aerobic psychrotrophic count, lipid oxidation, instrumental color, and texture parameters on days 0, 2, 4, 7, 11, and 14. The UVC-LED affected shelf life and physicochemical parameters in a nonlinear fashion. UVC-LED-treated fish had increased shelf life by 2.80-4.76 days and increase or decrease in lipid oxidation (0.025-0.276 mg of malondialdehyde [MDA]/kg), total color change (∆E = 3.47-9.06), and hardness (1.31-8.51 N) over the refrigerated storage depending on specific UVC-LED conditions applied. The optimal UVC-LED condition was 0.97 mW/cm2 with 2503.6 s (2428.50 mJ/cm2 ), which increased the fillet's shelf life by 2.5-fold (2 days) while maintaining quality closer to the original throughout refrigerated storage, resulting in ∆E < 5, an increase of only 0.05 mg of MDA/kg, and preservation of the decrease in hardness by 3.38 N compared to its control counterparts. Therefore, it represents an eco-friendly technology that can easily scaled industrially to enhance the sustainable fish production chain. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The high fish perishability is a global concern due to food safety risks and waste generation impacting the environment adversely, especially nowadays, where fish production and consumption have increased, and there are more evident efforts to sustainable production. UVC-LED is an eco-friendly technology with proven antimicrobial effectiveness but doses needed to reach this effect enhance oxidative degradation. Despite that, optimization studies concerning the maximum shelf life extension while retaining the physicochemical quality of refrigerated stored fish are a gap in the literature and a barrier to its industrial application. Our findings are helpful in sustainably enhancing the fish production chain.

Meat Irradiation: A Comprehensive Review of Its Impact on Food Quality and Safety

Food irradiation is a proven method commonly used for enhancing the safety and quality of meat. This technology effectively reduces the growth of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It also increases the lifespan and quality of products by delaying spoilage and reducing the growth of microorganisms. Irradiation does not affect the sensory characteristics of meats, including color, taste, and texture, as long as the appropriate dose is used. However, its influence on the chemical and nutritional aspects of meat is complex as it can alter amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins as well as generate free radicals that cause lipid oxidation. Various factors, including irradiation dose, meat type, and storage conditions, influence the impact of these changes. Irradiation can also affect the physical properties of meat, such as tenderness, texture, and water-holding capacity, which is dose-dependent. While low irradiation doses potentially improve tenderness and texture, high doses negatively affect these properties by causing protein denaturation. This research also explores the regulatory and public perception aspects of food irradiation. Although irradiation is authorized and controlled in many countries, its application is controversial and raises concerns among consumers. Food irradiation is reliable for improving meat quality and safety but its implication on the chemical, physical, and nutritional properties of products must be considered when determining the appropriate dosage and usage. Therefore, more research is needed to better comprehend the long-term implications of irradiation on meat and address consumer concerns.

Multivariate Nature of Fish Freshness Evaluation by Consumers

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensory acceptability limit of refrigerated fish through a multivariate approach, involving classic physicochemical and bacteriological indicators and considering different consumer profiles. The results of the survival analysis demonstrated that, in general, consumers still considered the fish to be suitable for purchase (4.128 days of storage), despite being microbiologically unsuitable for consumption. However, the subsequent division of consumers into clusters indicated that women and individuals with high income and education levels tend to reject fish with few days of storage (3.650 days), mainly due to discoloration, despite still being microbiologically suitable for consumption. Thus, these segments present a safer behavior regarding the purchase of fresh fish. The influence of different frequencies of fish consumption and age of consumers on the assessment of fish freshness was not clarified. The responsibility for ensuring safe and healthy products at the point of sale must lie with the producers and distributors. However, improving consumers’ ability to make good choices when buying fresh fish would bring social and economic benefits related to public health and to the seafood industry, because it would enable them to make relevant claims and demand their rights.

Combined Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and UV-C Radiation on Pathogens Reduction, Biogenic Amines, and Shelf Life of Refrigerated Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fillets

This study investigated the isolated effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 50% CO₂ and 50% N₂) and ultraviolet radiation (UV; 0.30 J/cm²) as well as their combined (MAP/UV) effect on reduction of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7, biogenic amines (BA), and on shelf life of tilapia fillets stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 10 days. UV samples had the highest reduction of S. typhimurium (1.13 log colony forming units/g; CFU/g) and E. coli O157:H7 (0.70 log CFU/g). MAP and MAP/UV reduced the growth of S. typhimurium in 0.50 log CFU/g and did not affect the growth of E. coli O157:H7. UV, MAP, and MAP/UV increased lag phase and/or generation time of all evaluated bacterial groups, decreased pH values, ammonia formation, texture changes, and, in general, the BA formation throughout storage period, and, therefore, UV, MAP, and MAP/UV extended the shelf life for two, three, and at least five days, respectively. MAP/UV, MAP, and UV decreased redness, MAP/UV and MAP increased yellowness and lipid oxidation, while UV did not affect it. MAP/UV demonstrated promising results for shelf life extension; however, different gas ratios in combination with other ultraviolet radiation type C (UV-C) doses should be investigated to reach the highest microbiological safety and maintenance of the overall quality of tilapia fillets.

Principles and applications of non-thermal technologies and alternative chemical compounds in meat and fish

Conventional methods of food preservation have demonstrated several disadvantages and limitations in the efficiency of the microbial load reduction and maintain food quality. Hence, non-thermal preservation technologies (NTPT) and alternative chemical compounds (ACC) have been considered a high promissory replacer to decontamination, increasing the shelf life and promoting low levels of physicochemical, nutritional and sensorial alterations of meat and fish products. The combination of these methods can be a potential alternative to the food industry. This review deals with the most critical aspects of the mechanisms of action under microbial, physicochemical, nutritional and sensorial parameters and the efficiency of the different NTPT (ultrasound, high pressure processing, gamma irradiation and UV-C radiation) and ACC (peracetic acid, bacteriocins, nanoparticles and essential oils) applied in meat and fish products. The NTPT and ACC present a high capacity of microorganisms inactivation, ensuring low alterations level in the matrix and high reduction of environmental impact. However, the application conditions of the different methods as exposition time, energy intensity and concentration thresholds of chemical compounds need to be specifically established and continuously improved for each matrix type to reduce to the maximum the physicochemical, nutritional and sensorial changes. In addition, the combination of the methods (hurdle concept) may be an alternative to enhance the matrix decontamination. In this way, undesirable changes in meat and fish products can be further reduced without a decrease in the efficiency of the decontamination.

The Effect of Different Packaging Systems on the Shelf Life of Refrigerated Ground Beef

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different packaging systems on the shelf life of refrigerated ground beef. The ground beef samples were packaged as follows: AA (100% ambient air), 90O2:10CO2 (90% O2 and 10% CO2), 80O2:20CO2 (80% O2 and 20% CO2), 70O2:30CO2 (70% O2 and 30% CO2), 60O2:40CO2 (60% O2 and 40% CO2), 50O2:50CO2 (50% O2 and 50% CO2), 100O2 (100% O2), and VP (vacuum packaging). All treatments were analyzed daily for O2 and CO2 levels, pH, filtration time, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), aerobic mesophilic heterotrophic bacteria (AMHB), and aerobic psychrotrophic heterotrophic bacteria (APHB) over 20 days at 2 °C. All MAP systems had a decrease of O2 and an increase of CO2 levels during storage period (p < 0.05). Overall, the MAP systems were similarly able to decrease the pH and retard the increase of TVB-N and filtration time over the storage period (p > 0.05). Moreover, the MAP systems increased the lag phase and/or the generation time of both AMHB and APHB, extending the shelf life by 3 (90O2:10CO2), 4 (70O2:30CO2 and 100O2), and 5 days (80O2:20CO2, 60O2:40CO2, 50O2:50CO2, and VP). All MAP systems were equally effective in retarding physicochemical degradation; however, 80O2:20CO2, 60O2:40CO2, 50O2:50CO2, and VP were the most effective in impairing bacterial growth and extending the shelf life of ground beef stored under refrigeration.

Effect of packaging methods and storage conditions on quality characteristics of flour product naan

The quality characteristics of naan from flour products under various packaging methods stored at different temperatures (25, 4 and - 20 °C) for different time (0-49 days) were investigated. Packaging methods included ordinary plastic packaging (OPP), vacuum packaging (VP) and deoxygenation packaging (DP). Sensory value, acid value, moisture content and microbial count of naan during storage were evaluated. The results showed that the total demerit points of sensory of DP naan stored at 25 °C had considerably lower levels. The moisture content of naan in DP and VP at 25 °C during storage had not been affected, while in OPP increased; the acid values of naan increased, but in DP was the lowest; the total microbiological count (MC) of naan in OPP, VP and DP at 5th day reached 2.25, 3.04 and 1.99 log CFU g^-1, respectively. At 4 and - 20 °C, the moisture content of naan in OPP, VP and DP during storage reduced, the acid values at storage the 38th day dramatically increased (p < 0.05), the MC slowly increased, but these in DP samples was lower. The Ultraviolet (UV) and microwave (MW) radiation time was varied to study its effect on the shelf life of naan at 25 °C. The moisture content of UV and MW treated naan were not significantly different from those of control naan (p > 0.05), but the demerit points, acid values and MC reduced, the shelf life of naan was extended. The combination of DP and MW methods was a better efficient way to reduced negative quality changes of naan during storage.

Effect of Tartary Buckwheat Peptides on Shelf Life of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Fillets

Tartary buckwheat peptides (TBPs), produced from tartary buckwheat through solid-state fermentation, were used as a dip treatment solution to preserve tilapia fillets. Fillets were dip treated with different concentrations of TBPs (0.5, 1, and 2% [v/v]) and stored at 4°C for 12 days. The effect of TBPs on thiobarbituric acid, total volatile base nitrogen, surface color, texture profile analysis, total viable counts, and changes in sensory properties of tilapia fillets during storage was investigated. Compared with the control group, the groups treated with TBPs displayed reduced rates of quality deterioration in physicochemical, bacteriological, and sensory characteristics. Based on total volatile base nitrogen content, total viable counts, and sensory scores, the shelf life of control tilapia fillets was 4 days and that for TBP-treated fillets was 8 days, twice as long as that of the control group. Thus, TBPs can be used as preservatives to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of tilapia fillets stored at 4°C.

Combined effect of high hydrostatic pressure and ultraviolet radiation on quality parameters of refrigerated vacuum-packed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets

This study investigated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and ultraviolet radiation (UV-C), individually and combined, on the physical, chemical and bacterial parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets stored at 4 °C for 14 days. Tilapia fillets were divided into four groups: control (untreated samples), UV-C, HHP, and UV-C combined with HHP (UV-C+HHP); UV-C was applied at dose of 0.103 ± 0.002 J/cm², and HHP at a pressure of 220 MPa for 10 min at 25 °C. All samples were analyzed for total aerobic mesophilic count (TAMC), total aerobic psychrotrophic count (TAPC), Enterobacteriaceae count, pH, lipid oxidation, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), ammonia (NH₃), and biogenic amines. Although UV-C accelerated (P ≤ 0.05) the formation of cadaverine, both UV-C and HHP, alone or together, retarded bacterial growth and delayed the increase (P ≤ 0.05) in pH, TVB-N, NH₃ and biogenic amines during refrigerated storage, extending the shelf life of refrigerated tilapia fillets at least 2.5 times considering the TAMC counts. Lipid oxidation was unaffected (P > 0.05) by UV-C radiation, and decreased (P ≤ 0.05) by HHP and UV-C+HHP. HHP alone or combined with UV-C showed higher potential benefits for tilapia fillets preservation considering the positive influence on cadaverine levels and lipid oxidation.

Nutritional Profile and Chemical Stability of Pasta Fortified with Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Flour

Physicochemical parameters of pasta enriched with tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) flour were investigated. Five formulations were prepared with different concentrations of tilapia flour as partial substitute of wheat flour: pasta without tilapia flour (PTF0%), pasta with 6% (PTF6%), 12% (PTF12%), 17% (PTF17%), and 23% (PTF23%) of tilapia flour. The formulations were assessed for proximate composition, fatty acid and amino acid profile on day 1 whereas, instrumental color parameters (L*, a* and b* values), pH, water activity (aw), and lipid and protein oxidation were evaluated on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 of storage at 25°C. Fortification with tilapia flour increased (p < 0.05) protein, lipid, ash, total essential amino acids, and total polyunsaturated fatty acids contents. In addition, supplementation of pasta with tilapia flour decreased (p < 0.05) lightness and water activity while redness, yellowness, pH values, and lipid oxidation were increased (p < 0.05) in a level-dependent manner. Nevertheless, all formulations were exhibited storage stability at 25°C. In general, protein oxidation was greater (p < 0.05) in the pasta containing 12%, 17%, and 23% of tilapia flour than their counterparts, and the storage promoted an increase (p < 0.05) on the carbonyl content in all formulations. Thus, pasta with 6% of tilapia flour has the potential to be a technological alternative to food industry for the nutritional enrichment of traditional pasta with negligible negative effects on the chemical stability of the final product during 21 days at 25°C.

Effect of sustainability information on consumers' liking of freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

BACKGROUND

This research aimed to investigate whether consumer acceptance is affected by information on sustainable practices on the product label. Hedonic evaluations of freshwater prawns were performed by 80 consumers under three aspects: the blind condition - consumers taste samples without information; expected - without tasting samples, consumers evaluated the message 'Freshwater prawns were grown using sustainable practices, reducing environmental impacts caused by traditional breeding'; informed - in which prawns were tasted and the card evaluated.

RESULTS

For the entire consumer group, it was observed that the message about sustainability on packaging increased freshwater prawn acceptability (8.25, expected condition (E) versus 6.75, blind condition (B)). High scores were observed under all three test conditions, ranging from 6 (like slightly) to 9 (like extremely), on a 9-point scale.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that the use of sustainable information can influence consumers' perception and increase their preference toward freshwater prawns, and even increase the sensory attributes of the product.

Development and nutritional and sensory evaluation of cachapinta (Pseudoplatystoma sp) pâté

This study developed a technique for the preparation of pâté from cachapinta (Pseudoplatystoma sp) waste. For this, frozen minced cachapinta fish was crushed in a mini cutter and homogenized with all other ingredients. The prepared pâté was stored in seamed and thermally treated cans (volume 170 g). Weight proportions of mean moisture, ash, protein, and lipid contents of the minced fish were 75.49, 1.00, 15.00, and 7.92 (g/100 g), respectively. The formulation of the developed pâté is in accordance with legislation for fish products. Cachapinta pâté is a product with high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, low level of trans fat, and good indices of nutritional quality. Tests of sensory acceptance, purchase intent, and sensory attributes (except spreadability) averaged a score above 6.0, indicating acceptability of the product. Our study suggests that the potential of minced cachapinta for pâté production is high, and that it can contribute a value-added product to seafood consumption.

Microbiological quality and biogenic amines in ready-to-eat grilled chicken fillets under vacuum packing, freezing, and high-dose irradiation

The combined effects of cooking, vacuum packing, freezing, and high-dose gamma irradiation in the microbiological conservation and in biogenic amine (BA) contents of ready-to-eat grilled breast chicken fillets are investigated in this work. After seasoning, cooking, and vacuum packing, one-third of the samples were stored at -25°C (T1). The remaining two-thirds were treated with 48 kGy, one-third being stored at -25°C (T2) and the other one-third kept at room temperature (T3). All samples were periodically analyzed to determine growth of heterotrophic aerobic mesophilic bacteria (HAMB) and levels of BA (tyramine, TYM; putrescine, PUT; cadaverine, CAD; spermidine, SPD; histamine, HYM; and spermine, SPM). Variance analysis was performed to determine significant changes in the measured data. Grilling caused HAMB counts in seasoned samples to drop from 5.3 log cfu/g to zero. In addition, no viable HAMB cells were detected in the samples throughout the 12-mo storage time. Regarding the BA analyses, the highest mean levels were measured for SPM and CAD with significantly higher levels (P < 0.05) being determined in nonirradiated samples (T1). Furthermore, significantly lower mean levels for the total content of BA were observed in the irradiated samples. Relative to T1 (7.5 ± 1.5 mg/kg), the figures were 47 ± 23% for T2 and 60 ± 25% for T3, mostly due to loss of CAD by radiolysis. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combination of grilling, vacuum packing, freezing, and high-dose gamma irradiation efficiently eliminated HAMB, while sustaining acceptable levels of BA in ready-to-eat chicken breast fillets throughout the 12 mo of storage at room temperature.