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There is an intensive search for alternative sources of bioactive molecules, including carotenoids, due to their potent antioxidant activities. Some aquatic microorganisms, such as thraustochytrids...

Within the Mediterranean farmed fish species, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) is one of the most significant and represents an important economic resource with an increasing demand. As a result, ...

The effects of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase; 5 g/kg, w/w) and dietary fiber (40 g pea fiber/kg product and 20 g carrageenan + 20 g konjac flour/kg product) on heat-induced meagre (Argyrosomus regius) gels with 25 and 10 g salt/kg, w/w were analyzed.MTGase addition increased the magnitude of texture variables. Inner pea fiber had an increasing effect on gel texture. The combination of carrageenan and konjac hardened meagre gels (from 22.2 ± 1.4 to 47.3 ± 4.5 N) and enhanced water-holding capacity. Salt reduction with MTGase ensured a gelling quality similar to that of gels from Alaska pollock surimi.

New heat-induced gel products prepared from farmed meagre (Argyrosomus regius) and psyllium dietary fiber (DF; up to 4.0%, w/w) with reduced salt content (from 2.5 to 1.0%, w/w) were studied. The effect of chilled storage time (15 days vs. 1 day) was also measured. Psyllium DF worsened breaking force and deformation as well as springiness, but it did not affect the remaining textural properties and improved water holding capacity (WHC). Salt reduction from 2.5 to 1.0% (w/w) decreased breaking force and deformation, cohesiveness, and WHC. The textural, color, and WHC properties of heat-induced meagre gels were unaffected by chilled storage time. Results pointed to the feasibility of using psyllium DF addition up to 4.0% (w/w) as a strategy not only to improve nutritional value of the gel products, but also to countervail some of the negative effects of a lower salt content.

Effects of five ingredients on cod sausages' chemical composition, pH, colour, texture, and sensory attributes were analysed. Changed ingredients were pea protein (0 vs. 2 g/100 g sausage), carrageenan (0 vs. 1 g/100 g), sodium bicarbonate (0, 0.15, and 0.3 g/100 g), sodium chloride (1.2 vs. 2.3 g/100 g) and pork meat (0, 13.3, and 26.7 g/100 g). Sausages became more yellow, springier, and harder with pea protein incorporation. Carrageenan addition made products redder, harder, and springier but less elastic. Sodium chloride reduction produced harder, springier, and more cohesiveness, but it produced less salty and smoky sausages. Textural effects of sodium bicarbonate addition were similar. Pork meat substitution made sausages harder, springier, and more cohesive.

Soluble gas stabilization (SGS) is a relatively recent methodology of active packaging that has been proposed to extend the shelf life of packaged fish. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of SGS applied at different extents (2 bars: 30 and 60 min) on the shelf life of sea bream and sea bass fillets packed in air during chilled storage. Quality changes were evaluated by sensory assessment, microbiological analysis (TVC), TBARs, pH value, TVB-N, and TMA-N. No significant extension of sensory shelf life was visible as a function of SGS treatment. The treatment of fillets in CO2 at 2 bars during 60 min had a positive effect on the microbiological shelf life of both species. On the other hand, TMA-N and TVB-N showed similar changes during storage period and were not affected by the CO2 treatment. Sea bream treated with SGS always presented higher TBARs than control samples. Nevertheless, oxidation of sea bream and in particular, of sea bass fillets, did not appear to be a significant ...

The effectiveness of oxygen absorber on the shelf life of scaled and gutted seabream packed in air during 10 days chilled storage (∼ 5°C) was studied. The quality changes were evaluated by sensory, microbial and chemical methods. Absorbers reduced oxygen concentration by 54% within the first two days and levels attained 0.1% after 6 days of storage. Significant differences in K values were not observed between packed batches with and without O2 absorber. Positive effects of O2 absorber on the reduction of lipid oxidation and sensory attributes, mainly on the appearance, were observed.