Effects of electron-beam irradiation on volatile flavor compounds of salmon fillets by the molecular sensory science technique

Creating alternative seafood flavour from non-animal ingredients: A review of key flavour molecules relevant to seafood

This review summarises current knowledge of the molecular basis for flavour profiles of popular seafood types (crustacean (crab, lobster, prawn, etc.), mollusc (oyster, squid, etc.), oily fish (salmon, sardine, etc.) and white fish (barramundi, turbot, etc.)), and provides a foundation for formulating improved plant-based seafood alternative (PBSA) flavours. Key odour-active volatile molecules were identified from a systematic review of published olfactometry studies and taste-active compounds and macronutrient profiles of different seafood species and commercial PBSAs from nutrition databases were compared. Ingredients commonly used in commercial BPSAs and new potential sources of flavouring agents are evaluated. While significant challenges in replicating seafood flavour and texture remain, this review provides some insights into how plant-based ingredients could be applied to improve the acceptability of PBSAs.

A primary study of ethanol production in postmortem liver and muscle tissue of rats

OBJECTIVE

To study the characteristics of postmortem ethanol production and its relation with alcohol congeners in postmortem rat liver and muscle tissues.

METHOD

Postmortem liver and muscle tissues in Sprague-Dawley rats, from postmortem time interval (PMI) day 0-20, were analyzed via headspace gas chromatograph flame ionization detection to observe production of postmortem ethanol and 5 selected alcohol congeners.

RESULT

1. Putrid ethanol production increased gradually to a peak and then decreased with the prolongation of PMI; 2. Acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, and 3-methyl-butyraldehyde were produced along with postmortem ethanol; 1-butanol was only detected from day 11-20; 3. The concentrations of acetaldehyde, 1-propanol and 3-methyl-butyraldehyde was related with ethanol production. Fifteen mathematical models were constructed for putrid ethanol production based on acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, and 3-methyl-butyraldehyde.

CONCLUSION

A peak in postmortem ethanol production was identified. The production trends of acetaldehyde, 1-propanol, and 3-methyl-butyraldehyde in the liver, and of 1-propanol in muscle, were consistent with those of ethanol, and could potentially to be used as biomarkers of postmortem ethanol production. Further human samples and data analysis are needed to verify this.

Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Chemometric Approach for the Study of Volatile Profile in X-ray Irradiated Surface-Ripened Cheeses

X-ray irradiation is an emerging non-thermal technology that is used as a preservation and sanitization technique to inactivate pathogens and spoilage organisms, increasing the shelf life of products. In this work, two different types of surface-ripened cheeses, Brie and Camembert, produced with cow milk, were treated with X-rays at three dose levels, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 kGy, to evaluate the irradiation effects on the volatile profile using a volatolomic approach. The headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to extract and analyze the volatile fraction from these dairy matrices. The HS-SPME method was optimized by a central composite design in combination with a desirability optimization methodology. The Carboxen/PDMS fiber, 50 °C for extraction temperature and 60 min for time extraction were found to be the best parameter settings and were applied for this investigation. The obtained fingerprints demonstrated that the irradiation-induced changes are dose dependent. The X-ray irradiation produced many new volatiles not found in the non-irradiated samples, but it also varied the amount of some volatiles already present in the control. Specifically, aldehydes and hydrocarbons increased with the irradiation dose, whereas alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters, methyl esters, ketones, lactones and sulfur-containing compounds showed a non-linear dependence on the dose levels; indeed, they increased up to 4.0 kGy, and then decreased slightly at 6.0 kGy. This trend, more evident in the Camembert profile, is probably due to the fact that these compounds are involved in different oxidation mechanisms of lipids and proteins, which were induced by the radiation treatment. In these oxidative chemical changes, the production and degradation processes of the volatiles are competitive, but at higher doses, the decomposition reactions exceed those of formation. A principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis were used to discriminate between the treated and untreated samples. Moreover, this study allowed for the identification of potential markers of X-ray treatment for the two cheeses, confirming this approach as a useful tool for the control of irradiated surface-ripened cheeses.

Volatilome Analysis and Evolution in the Headspace of Packed Refrigerated Fish

Fresh fish is a perishable food in which chemical (namely oxidation) and microbiological degradation result in undesirable odor. Non-processed fish (i.e., raw fish) is increasingly commercialized in packaging systems which are convenient for its retailing and/or which can promote an extension of its shelf-life. Compared to fish sent to its retail unpackaged, fish packaging results in a modification of the gaseous composition of the atmosphere surrounding it. These modifications of atmosphere composition may affect both chemical and microbiological degradation pathways of fish constituents and thereby the volatile organic compounds produced. In addition to monitoring Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVB-N), which is a common indicator to estimate non-processed fish freshness, analytical techniques such as gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry or techniques referred to as "electronic nose" allow either the identification of the entire set of these volatile compounds (the volatilome) and/or to selectively monitor some of them, respectively. Interestingly, monitoring these volatile organic compounds along fish storage might allow the identification of early-stage markers of fish alteration. In this context, to provide relevant information for the identification of volatile markers of non-processed packaged fish quality evolution during its storage, the following items have been successively reviewed: (1) inner atmosphere gaseous composition and evolution as a function of fish packaging systems; (2) fish constituents degradation pathways and analytical methods to monitor fish degradation with a focus on volatilome analysis; and (3) the effect of different factors affecting fish preservation (temperature, inner atmosphere composition, application of hurdle technology) on volatilome composition.

Effects of specific doses of E-beam irradiation which inactivated SARS-CoV-2 on the nutrition and quality of Atlantic salmon

The contamination of Atlantic salmon with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has impeded the development of the cold-chain food industry and posed possible risks to the population. Electron beam (E-beam) irradiation under 2, 4, 7, and 10 kGy can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain seafood. However, there are few statistics about the quality changes of salmon exposed to these irradiation dosages. This work demonstrated that E-beam irradiation at dosages capable of killing SARS-CoV-2 induced lipid oxidation, decreased vitamin A content, and increased some amino acids and ash content. In addition, irradiation altered the textural features of salmon, such as its hardness, resilience, cohesiveness, and chewiness. The irradiation considerably affected the L*, a*, and b* values of salmon, with the L* value increasing and a*, b* values decreasing. There was no significant difference in the sensory evaluation of control and irradiated salmon. It was shown that irradiation with 2-7 kGy E-beam did not significantly degrade quality. The inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in salmon is advised at a dose of 2 kGy.

Effect of Nanoemulsion Containing Enterocin GR17 and Cinnamaldehyde on Microbiological, Physicochemical and Sensory Properties and Shelf Life of Liquid-Smoked Salmon Fillets

The spoilage of liquid-smoked salmon represented a serious restriction for shelf life, due to the loss of taste, smell, color and consistency in product quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of applying a nanoemulsion delivery system co-encapsulated enterocin Gr17 and essential oils (EOs) to the refrigerated storage of liquid-smoked salmon. The synergistic inhibiting effects of enterocin Gr17 and EOs were evaluated, a nanoemulsion delivery system with the optimal combination was developed, and the evolution of the microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory properties of liquid-smoked salmon fillets were analyzed during a 49-day period of refrigerated storage. The results showed that the combination of enterocin Gr17 and cinnamaldehyde essential oil (CEO) displayed the strongest synergistic inhibiting effect on foodborne pathogens. A nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO was successfully developed and presented a broad spectrum of activity against most of the tested bacteria. A nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO (CO-NE) could significantly inhibit the growth of microflora, suppress the accumulation of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and maintain better color, texture, and sensory profiles during smoked salmon storage at 4 °C. Overall, from a microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory point of view, the CO-NE treatment could extend the shelf life to 42 days and maintain the relatively low TVB-N value (≤15.38 mg/100 g), TBARS value (≤2.51 mg MDA/kg), as well as a relatively high sensory score (≥5.83) during the whole storage period. Hence, a nanoemulsion system incorporating enterocin Gr17 and CEO could be a promising bio-preservative technology and alternative to the conventional processes used for improving the safety and quality of chilled liquid-smoked salmon.

Analysis of Water Distribution and Muscle Quality of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) Chunks Based on Electron-Beam Irradiation

Electron-beam irradiation (EBI) is an efficient, safe, and nonthermal sterilization technique that is extensively used in food preservation research. Here we report the effects of different EBI doses (0, 4, 8 kGy) and preservation temperatures (room temperature [RT], 4 °C) on the muscle water distribution and muscle quality indices of silver carp chunks (SCCs). The highest entrapped water content was found in the 4-kGy-irradiated/4-°C-stored samples. The expressible moisture content (EMC) of the SCCs increased with increasing irradiation dose and was significantly lower in the RT group than in the 4 °C group. The irradiation dose and preservation temperature had no significant effect on the moisture content, whiteness value and protein content of SCCs (p > 0.05). When the irradiation dose reached 8 kGy, AV value, POV value and TVB value were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The myofibrillar protein content and actomyosin content of the SCCs in the 4 °C group was higher than that of the specimens in the RT group by 0.29−0.98 mg/mL (p < 0.05) and 36.21−296.58 μg/mL (p < 0.05), respectively. Overall, EBI treatment (4 kGy) and low-temperature preservation (4 °C) helped retain the muscle water content of the SCCs and preserve their quality, thereby endorsing the EBI treatment of silver carp products.