Effect of processing treatments (frozen, frying) on contents of minerals in tissues of ‘frutti di mare’

Mineral Content (Essential and Toxic Elements) of Squid Flesh Is Affected by Maceration with Sodium Salts and Vacuum-Cooking

Maceration with sodium salts is applied to irmprove water holding capacity in squid-based products. The aim of this work was to determine how the mineral content of squid flesh is affected by maceration and further vacuum-cooking. Atlantic squids (Loligo vulgaris) from two fisheries (FAO areas No. 47 and 34) were sampled. Macrominerals (g/100 g) present in raw flesh were Na, Mg, P, S, K and Ca, while microminerals accounting for >1 mg/kg were Zn, Si, Sr, Fe, Cu, Al and Mn. As a result of maceration (3 + 1.5% w: w NaCl+ Na citrate) and vacuum-cooking (at 65 °C for 20 min), some squid minerals was removed. The levels of Cd and As were reduced by half, while Na content increased from 0.28 to 0.49 g/100 g. Maceration with sodium salts generally led to minerals leaching (except for Na) with the medium. Further cooking produced additional losses of most of the minerals present in macerated squid (except Pb and Cd). Squid microminerals were hardly removed with the cooking juice. The consumption of macerated-cooked squid covered > 10% of the recommended dietary intake for Na, P, Zn, Mg and Mn, while health risks were almost negligible and mainly concerned Cd (up to 14% of the probable tolerable weekly intake). The combination of both treatments involves certain loss of most of the essential minerals but also contributes to reducing toxicological risks related to mineral intake through squid products.

Removal of cadmium from rice grains by acid soaking and quality evaluation of decontaminated rice

Contamination of rice by cadmium (Cd) is threatening a large population in China. In this study, we report that soaking rice grains in a hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution can remove Cd to a desirable extent. The results indicated that the degree of Cd removal was up to 45%∼85% at different soaking times and concentrations of HCl (0.06 M ∼ 0.18 M), which was found to be logarithmically correlated with the reaction time at the optimized liquid-solid ratio of 1:2. Three HCl concentration-dependent mathematical models were established, which revealed various optimal soaking conditions depending on the initial Cd contamination. Four Cd-contaminated rice grain samples with different degrees of contamination were then tested based on the mathematical models, and the final Cd content was reduced to an acceptable extent. Moreover, the physicochemical and food properties of rice flours and rice grains after Cd removal were evaluated to highlight their potential applications.

Impact of high hydrostatic pressure on non-volatile and volatile compounds of squid muscles

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP at 200, 400 or 600MPa) on non-volatile and volatile compounds of squid muscles during 10-day storage at 4°C were investigated. HHP increased the concentrations of Cl(-) and volatile compounds, reduced the level of PO4(3-), but did not affect the contents of 5'-uridine monophosphate (UMP), 5'-guanosine monophosphate (GMP), 5'-inosine monophosphate (IMP), Na(+) and Ca(2+) in squids on Day 0. At 600MPa, squids had the highest levels of 5'-adenosine monophosphate, Cl(-) and lactic acid, but the lowest contents of CMP and volatile compounds on Day 10. Essential free amino acids and succinic acids were lower on Day 0 than on Day 10. HHP at 200MPa caused higher equivalent umami concentration (EUC) on Day 0, and the EUC decreased with increasing pressure on Day 10. Generally, HHP at 200MPa was beneficial for improving EUC and volatile compounds of squids.