Medycyna Wet. 66 (10), 695-698, 2010
Malicki A., Sysak Z., Brużewicz S., Źródłowska-Danek J., Szpak M.
Application of high hydrostatic pressure to extend the shelf-life of traditionally produced fish paste.
The aim of this study was to reveal whether the application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) prolongs the shelf-life of traditionally manufactured fish paste stored under refrigeration (+4±1°C). The experiment was performed on 180 fish paste samples: tuna fish paste, mackerel paste with paprika, mackerel paste with garlic, mackerel paste, and salmon paste. Microbiological status of traditionally manufactured, chemically preserved and pasteurized paste was compared with the status of the paste which had been subjected to a 15-minute HHP treatment (200 MPa, 300 MPa or 400 MPa) at 20°C. The samples were stored under refrigeration for six weeks with microbiological counts determined every two weeks. Directly after manufacturing, the total plate count in the traditionally manufactured paste ranged from 1.0 log cfu/g to 1.8 log cfu/g. An increase of this parameter up to 2.3 log cfu/g was noted after 6-week storage. Additionally, contamination with moulds and yeasts was observed in the traditionally manufactured fish paste after six weeks of storage (mean 2.0 log cfu/g). Neither bacteria nor moulds or yeasts were detected in the HHP-treated fish paste samples at any time point analyzed, irrespective of pressurization conditions (200 MPa, 300 MPa or 400 MPa). In conclusion, this study revealed that 200 MPa of high hydrostatic pressure is sufficient to prolong the shelf-life of traditionally manufactured fish paste stored under refrigeration for up to 6 weeks.
Keywords: fish paste, high hydrostatic pressure