Combinate effect of antimelanosic agents (acerola fruit extract and sodium metabisulphite) with the modified atmosphere packaging on the quality of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) stored under refrigeration

Abstract

The current study set out to find out how shrimp quality in cold storage (4 °C) for 21 d was impacted by antimelanosic treatments (10% acerola fruit extract (AF) and 1.25% sodium metabisulphite (SMS) solutions for 10 min) in combination with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP, including vacuum): Atmospheric air (AIR), MAP1 [70% N2 : 25% CO2 : 5% O2], MAP2 [25% N2 : 70% CO2 : 5% O2], and vacuum (VAC). Untreated samples were considered as Control (C). Every three days, microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory investigations were conducted. Overall, the findings show that MAP improve the shelf-life of shrimp stored under 4 °C. In the battle to control melanosis, SMS's effectiveness – either alone or in combination with MAP – was overwhelming. Notwithstanding, the AF was also efficient and can be an effective and a natural substitute in the control of melanosis. When considering the results of the physico-chemical and microbiological results, the SMS often did not differ from the treatment with AF, demonstrating the excellent viability of the AF on the quality of the shrimp stored under refrigeration. However, given that acerola's high levels of vitamin C and phenolic compounds are known to have antioxidant activity, it is advised that additional studies be conducted. Preferably, these studies should aim to isolate specific fruit parts (peel, pulp, seeds) to determine where the highest concentration of phenolic compounds is found, or even to purify acerola extracts to comprehend the fruit's true antimelanosic potential.

Keywords

• shrimp
• melanosis
• shelf-life
• acerola fruit