Effect of Locust Bean Gum-Sodium Alginate Coatings Combined with High CO₂ Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Quality of Turbot (<i>Scophthalmus maximus</i>) during Refrigerated Storage

Abstract

This research was conducted to investigate the effect of active coatings composed of locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (SA) containing daphnetin emulsions (DEs) combined with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of turbot during 4 °C refrigerated storage for 32 days. The results revealed that LBG-SA-DE coatings together with high CO2 MAP (60% CO2/35% N2/5% O2) maintained the total viable count (TVC) of H2S-producing bacteria in 4–6 lg CFU/g, which is lower than the limit (7 lg CFU/g). In addition, LBG-SA-DE coatings together with high CO2 MAP (60% CO2/35% N2/5% O2) inhibited the production of odor compounds, including thiobarbituric acid (TBA), trimethylamine-nitrogen (TMA-N), K value, and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). The low-field NMR analysis (LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that LBG-SA-DE coatings together with high CO2 MAP (60% CO2/35% N2/5% O2) treatments could delay the release of water located in muscle fiber macromolecules or convert it into free water based on muscle fiber destruction, thus maintaining the water content and migration. The results of the sensory evaluation showed that turbot treated with LBG-SA-DE coatings together with MAP could maintain its freshness during refrigerated storage.

Keywords

• turbot
• active coating
• modified atmosphere packaging
• total volatile basic nitrogen
• shelf life