Charles A. Crapo

Ozone Efficacy as a Bactericide in Seafood Processing

Abstract The efficacy of ozonated water (0.6-1.5 ppm) was evaluated as a bactericidal agent for sanitizing food contact surfaces and for treatment of raw seafood. The presence of ozone reduced the bacterial levels substantially on stainless steel surfaces and to a lesser extent on plastic cutting boards. Ozone was about as effective as chlorine in lowering levels of Listeria innocua on inoculated food contact surfaces. Fish processing residuals present on the surface greatly reduced sanitizer effectiveness. In high organic conditions, chlorinated water was slightly more effective than ozonated water. However, ozonated water applied to fish fillets and roe was not effective for bacterial control. The presence of organic material, particularly with fillets, reduced the effectiveness of ozone. Ozone accelerated the development of rancidity in frozen roe and fillets, resulting in reduced shelf life. We recommend ozone only as a sanitizer for cleaned seafood contact surfaces.

Chemical characterization of commercial liquid smoke products

The objective of this study was to determine important chemical characteristics of a full-strength liquid smoke, Code 10-Poly, and three refined liquid smoke products (AM-3, AM-10 and 1291) commercially available (Kerry Ingredients and Flavors, Monterey, TN). The pH of the products were significantly different (P < 0.05) and ranged from 2.3 (Code 10-Poly) to 5.7 (1291). The pH was inversely correlated with titratable acidity (R2 = 0.87), which was significantly different (P < 0.05) among products ranging from 10.3% acetic acid (Code 10-Poly) to 0.7% acetic acid (1291). Total phenol content was quantified using the Gibbs reaction; the only liquid smoke containing appreciable level of phenolic compounds was Code 10-Poly at 3.22 mg mL−1. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of liquid smoke dichloromethane extracts revealed that carbonyl-containing compounds were major constituents of all products, in which 1-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2(5H)-furanone, propanal and cyclopentenone predominated. Organic acids were detected by GC-MS in all extracts and correlated positively (R2 = 0.98) with titratable acidity. The GC-MS data showed that phenolic compounds constituted a major portion of Code 10-Poly, and were detected only in trace quantities in 1291. The refined liquid smokes had lighter color, lower acidity, and reduced level of carbonyl-containing compounds and organic acids. Our study revealed major differences in pH, titratable acidity, total phenol content, color and chemical make-up of the full-strength and refined liquid smokes. The three refined liquid smoke products studied have less flavor and color active compounds, when compared with the full-strength product. Furthermore, the three refined products studied have unique chemical characteristics and will impart specific sensorial properties to food systems. Understanding the chemical composition of liquid smokes, be these refined or full-strength products, is an important step to establish their functions and appropriate use in food systems.

Prediction of Oyster Volume and Weight Using Machine Vision

ABSTRACT Fifty oysters each from Florida, Texas, and Alaska were used to develop methods that predict overall volume and weight, and meat volume and weight. Volumes (overall, shell, meat) were measured experimentally by the Archimedes principle. Densities were calculated. Using a machine vision system, the top- and side-view areas of whole oysters were determined. Various simple functions were fit to the view area data to predict whole oyster volume and weight, and meat volume and weight. A new cubic spline method was also developed to predict oyster volumes. The r2 values for the predicted oyster volumes were Texas = 0.92, Florida = 0.85, and Alaska = 0.64.

Microbial Evaluation of Alaska Salmon Caviar

Microbial quality of pink salmon caviar (ikura) processed at one plant in Alaska during a 30-day season was examined. Ikura (aw = 0.98; pH 6.1) averaged 49% water, 32% protein, 11% fat, 7% ash, and 3% salt. Aerobic plate counts (APCs) ranged from < 10(2)/g to 4.5 x 10(7)/g with increasing APC toward seasons end. Coliform counts ranged from < 3/g to 2.4 x 10(3)/g. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts, and molds were not detected. High-APC (10(7)/g) thawed caviar exhibited predominantly lactic acid bacteria; low-APC (10(3)/g) thawed caviar exhibited predominantly gram-negative bacteria. Freezing had little effect on the microbial counts, and shelf life of thawed caviar was 3 to 5 days at 2 degrees C.

Development of a Method to Produce Freeze‐Dried Cubes from 3 Pacific Salmon Species

Freeze-dried boneless skinless cubes of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka), and chum (Oncorhynchus keta) salmon were prepared and physical properties evaluated. To minimize freeze-drying time, the kinetics of dehydration and processing yields were investigated. The physical characteristics of the final product including bulk density, shrinkage, hardness, color, and rehydration kinetics were determined. Results showed that freeze-dried salmon cubes from each of the 3 Pacific salmon species can be produced with a moisture content of less that 10% and a(w) less 0.4 and freeze-drying time of 9 h. Processing yields ranged from 26% to 28.4%, depending on fish species. Shrinkage was less than 12% and rehydration of freeze-dried cubes was rapid. The value-added products developed have the potential to be utilized as ingredients for ready-to-eat soups, as snack food, salad topping, and baby finger-food.

Microbial Quality of an Alaska Native Smoked Salmon Process

A 4-day process of smoking and drying at ambient temperature (30°C) was used to produce Alaska Native-style salmon strips. A water activity of 0.95 during the first 3 days of smoking and drying allowed initial aerobic and facultative anaerobic microbial counts of 1.4 × 104/g and 6.5 × 103/g to reach 2.1 × 106/g and 2.8 × 106/g of fish, respectively. Coliform and yeast counts, which were less than 3/g and less than 4.0 × 102/g respectively, increased to 2.4 × 105/g and 4.2 × 104/g of fish by day 4. Staphylococcus aureus counts increased from 15/g to 2.4 × 105/g of fish during processing. The high S. aureus count in this product indicates consumers may be at risk.

Refined liquid smoke: a potential antilisterial additive to cold-smoked sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka).

Cold-smoked salmon (CSS) is a potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food product due to the high risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes and lack of a listericidal step. We investigated the antilisterial property of liquid smokes (LS) against Listeria innocua ATCC 33090 (surrogate to L. monocytogenes) as a potential supplement to vacuum-packaged CSS. A full-strength LS (Code 10-Poly), and three commercially refined fractions (AM-3, AM-10, and 1291) having less color and flavor (lower content of phenols and carbonyl-containing compounds) were tested. In vitro assays showed strong inhibition for all LS except for 1291. The CSS strips were surface coated with AM-3 and AM-10 at 1% LS (vol/wt) with an L-shaped glass rod and then inoculated with L. innocua at 3.5 log CFU/g, vacuum packaged, and stored at 4°C. The LS did not completely eliminate L. innocua but provided a 2-log reduction by day 14, with no growth up to 35 days of refrigerated storage. A simple difference sensory test by 180 untrained panelists showed the application of AM-3 did not significantly influence the overall sensorial quality of CSS. In essence, the application of the refined LS as an antilisterial additive to CSS is recommended.

Chemical Composition and Texture of Commercial Geoduck Clams (Panopea abrupta) Harvested in Southeast Alaska

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to determine chemical composition of the siphon and the mantle of commercialsize geoducks clams harvested in Southeast Alaska, and to measure textural differences between the two muscle tissues, comparing them with their frozen counterparts. Live geoducks were processed using standard industry practices and analyzed either fresh or after 90 days of frozen storage. The mantle significantly differed in composition and texture from the siphon. The mantle had significantly higher contents of carbohydrates and lipids, whereas the siphon had a higher moisture content. Protein content was similar between tissues, but soluble protein content in the siphon was significantly higher than in the mantle. Large differences were observed in the electrophoretic profiles of the contractile siphon, which had a greater abundance of higher molecular weight proteins than the mantle. There were also textural differences in hardness and shear energy, with the siphon presenting significantly higher values than the mantle. After freezing, hardness values for the mantle significantly increased, and this finding is in line with Southeast Alaska geoduck processor observations. Overall, the composition and textural differences recorded are commensurate with differences in anatomic functions of the siphon and the mantle in live geoduck clams.

Rating Alaska Salmon Protein Concentrate in China

Abstract Intense market competition resulting from the worldwide production of farmed salmon has led to a financial disaster for the Alaska wild salmon capture industry. The need to develop new products and markets for Alaska salmon products is paramount. This study reports on a project to develop an Alaskan salmon protein concentrate derived from Alaskan pink and chum salmon. The relative nutritional characteristics of the salmon protein concentrate made from pink and chum salmon compare favorably to that produced from Chinese aquacultured domestically produced grass carp. Personal surveys of Chinese consumers were conducted in five Chinese cities/regions and survey results indicate a substantial market potential for this product in China.

Supplementing long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in canned wild Pacific pink salmon with Alaska salmon oil.

Establishing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid contents in canned wild Alaska pink salmon products is challenging due to ample natural variation found in lipid content of pink salmon muscle. This study investigated the effect of adding salmon oil (SO) to canned pink salmon produced from fish exhibiting two opposite degrees of skin watermarking, bright (B) and dark (D). Specific goals of the study were to evaluate the benefits of adding SO to canned pink salmon with regard to nutritional value of the product, sensory characteristics, and the oxidative and hydrolytic stability of the lipids over thermal processing. Six groups of canned pink salmon were produced with variable levels of SO, either using bright (with 0, 1, or 2% SO) or dark (with 0, 2, or 4% SO) pink salmon. Compositional analysis revealed highest (P < 0.05) lipid content in sample B2 (8.7%) and lowest (P < 0.05) lipid content in sample D0 (3.5%). Lipid content of samples B0, B1, D2, and D4 was not significantly different (P > 0.05) ranging from 5.7% to 6.8%. Consequently, addition of SO to canned pink salmon allowed for consistent lipid content between bright and dark fish. Addition of 1% or 2% SO to canned bright pink salmon was not detrimental to the sensory properties of the product. It is recommended that canned bright pink salmon be supplemented with at least 1% SO, while supplementation with 2% SO would guarantee a minimum quantity of 1.9 g of n-3 fatty acids per 100 g of product. Addition of 4% SO to canned dark pink salmon was detrimental to product texture and taste, while supplementation with 2% SO did not negatively affect sensorial properties of the product. Accordingly, canned dark pink salmon should be supplemented with 2% SO so that a minimum n-3 fatty acids content of 1.5 g per 100 g of product.