Bromophenol Distribution in Salmon and Selected Seafoods of Fresh- and Saltwater Origin

Analysis of saltwater Pacific salmon (Onchorynchus sp.) showed that sufficient concentrations of bromophenols were present in saltwater salmon to provide sea-, brine-, or iodine- like flavor notes, but the compounds were virtually absent in spawning run ocean and prime condition Great Lakes freshwater salmon. Octanol/water partition coefficients revealed that bromophenols would be readily absorbed by fish from the diet. Analysis of marine fish, crustaceans, and molluscs also revealed notable concentrations of bromophenols in all samples. Only sporadic, low concentrations of bromophenols were found in freshwater fish. The data support the hypothesis that simple bromophenols are widely distributed in marine species via the food chain.     

Dutch consumers do not hesitate: Capturing implicit ‘no dominance’ durations using Hold-down Temporal Dominance methodologies for Sensations (TDS) and Emotions (TDE)

In the ‘classic’ Temporal Dominance (TD) method, panellists are instructed to select a dominant attribute, which remains dominant until another attribute is selected. This procedure does not allow recording ‘no dominance (ND)’. ND periods can occur because of indecisive selection behaviour due to hesitation or uncertainty about attribute selection and time needed to switch from one attribute to another. ND periods may create noise in TD data. ND can be recorded implicitly using a ‘Hold-down’ procedure, where panellists actively hold down the attribute button that is perceived dominant, but release it when no longer dominant. The ‘Hold-down’ procedure allows subjects to report indecisive behaviour simply by not holding down a button. This study compared the ‘classic’ and ‘Hold-down’ TD methodologies. One hundred and thirty-seven participants evaluated four dark chocolates in two sessions, one for sensory (TDS) and one for emotion (TDE) evaluations. Participants employed either classic (n = 68) or Hold-down (n = 69) TD following a between subjects design. Similar dominance rates and dynamic evolutions of attributes during consumption were observed for both methods. ND durations between attribute selections were shorter than 1 s during sensory and emotion evaluations. Such short ND durations unlikely reflect periods of true hesitation, but rather reflect the time needed to switch between dominant attributes. No evidence is found for Hold-down TD outperforming classic TD in terms of sensitivity and discrimination ability. In conclusion, irrespective of the conceptual likelihood regarding the occurrence of ‘no dominance’ periods, the present study failed to demonstrate moments of hesitation using the ‘Hold-down’ procedure.     

Changes in selected quality characteristics of minimally processed carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) when treated with ascorbic acid

‘B 10’ carambola of ripening stage (RS) 3 and 4 were minimally processed (MP) and then dipped in 0, 15 and 30 mg L^?1 ascorbic acid (AA). The 1‐cm‐thick slices were then dried, packed into cling‐wrapped‐foam tray and stored at 7 °C for 0, 3 and 5 days. Skin colour (L*, C* and h°), flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, vitamin C content, titratable acidity, pH, degree of browning, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity and sensory attributes of MP carambola treated with AA were determined. AA treatment had significant effect in decreasing cut surface browning degree but no significant effect on all the selected quality characteristics of the MP carambola. In the sensory evaluation, flesh colour, sweetness, flavour and overall taste were significantly affected by AA treatment especially at 15 mg L^?1. The RS of fruit significantly affected skin colour (C* and h°), pH and sensory attributes of colour and flavour of the MP carambola. As storage day (SD) progressed, skin colour (C* and h°), flesh firmness and vitamin C content, cut surface browning, PPO activity and all the sensory attributes of MP carambola decreased significantly. Flesh firmness of the MP carambola was affected by the interaction between AA × SD. Sensory attributes of MP carambola were affected significantly by AA × RS. All the sensory attributes of MP carambola positively correlated to each other but negatively correlated with browning degree. PPO activity positively correlated with browning degree. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Investigating Influence of pH and Parts on Sensory Characteristics and Volatile Components in Boiled Squid Using Experimental Designs

ABSTRACT: The aroma property of boiled squid was quantitatively described using 10 sensory attributes. From screening experiments based on a Plackett-Burman design, pH and parts of squid were selected as significant factors for generating the "cooked squid" aroma. Squid samples prepared according to a 3-level full-factorial design for pH and parts showed that "sweet,""roasted shrimp,""cooked fish," and "cooked squid" scores were higher in both muscle and muscle with skin at pH 6.5. Response surface models calculated for each of the attributes showed how pH and parts influenced their strength. Partial least squares regression analysis applied to the sensory and GC-MS data revealed that every attribute could be predictable (R²≥ 0.956) using a small number of informative peaks.     

Sensory evaluation of black pigmented rice (Oryza sativa cv. Poireton) wine fortified with probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 and Lactobacillus sakei ATCC 15521 using fuzzy logic

Rice wine was prepared in the laboratory from a black pigmented rice (cv. Poireton) using standardized methodology. The wine was fortified with the probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 and Lactobacillus sakei ATCC 15521 and allowed to undergo a storage period of 28 days at 4°C. These rice wines were compared with a commercial wine used as a standard reference wine. A panel consisting of 30 judges performed the sensory evaluation. The scores obtained were based on the quality attributes of colour, taste, aroma and alcoholic strength. Analysis of the sensory scores and ranking of the different samples were performed using fuzzy analysis. The quality attributes were also ranked according to their importance in the overall acceptability. Colour and alcoholic strength were accorded the highest importance, compared with aroma and taste, as quality attributes. The rice wines were rated as ‘not satisfactory’, ‘fair’, ‘medium’, ‘good’ and ‘excellent’ on the sensory scale. Out of the wines prepared, black pigmented rice wine fortified with L. acidophilus was the most acceptable and was ranked as ‘good’, which was also at par with the commercial wine. On the other hand, black pigmented rice wine fortified with L. sakei and black pigmented rice wine fortified with L. acidophilus and L. sakei were ranked in the ‘satisfactory’ category followed by the unfortified wine ranked in the ‘fair’ category. Copyright © 2015 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Consumer acceptability,sensory properties and expert quality judgements of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines

Background and Aims: This study aimed to determine what sensory attributes most drive consumer and expert acceptance for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines. Methods and Results: The sensory attributes of a set of commercial wines were quantified by a trained panel. A subset was assessed blind for liking by 203 consumers and for quality by 67 winemakers. For the total group of consumers, wines with low levels of ‘bitterness’, ‘hotness’, ‘metallic’, ‘smoky’ and ‘pepper’ were preferred. In addition, four consumer clusters were identified, each with different sensory drivers of preference, with the attributes ‘red berry’, ‘floral’, ‘caramel’ and ‘vanilla’ aroma, ‘acidity’, ‘green’ flavour and astringency being of importance in distinguishing the different clusters' acceptance scores. The winemakers' quality scores had little relationship with consumer response, although both groups gave low ratings to wines with Brettanomyces-related flavour. Conclusions: A relatively small set of sensory attributes were of greatest importance to consumer liking, and these generally dominate varietal differences. Winemakers' quality concepts do not closely align with those of the consumers. Significance of the Study: This study identifies sensory properties of red wines which could be maximised as well as those which should be reduced, allowing producers to better meet consumers' preferences.     

Persistent organic pollutants in fish: biomonitoring and cocktail effect with implications for food safety

The impact of anthropogenic wastes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on the marine environment has increased in the last decades. POPs include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs). To assess the levels of these POPs in the wild fish population, pelagic and benthopelagic predator fish species were selected as biomonitors. For detection and quantification of POPs in muscular tissues, a simple extraction through Accelerated-Solvent-Extraction (ASE) with an ‘in-line’ clean up purification approach was applied, followed by a GC–MS/MS analysis. Concentrations of sum DDT, sum HCH and endrin correlated with all PCB concentrations. Significant differences among fish species were found for all OCs and all PCBs except PCB 31 and 101. Blackspot seabream had the highest PCB concentrations; OCs were highest in tuna. Due to major concerns regarding fish population losses and the possible human chronic exposure to contaminated fish, studies addressing combined effects of multiple POPs (‘cocktail effect’) should be implemented. Our data motivate further experimental and observational studies in fish to define adequate baseline levels for cumulative human exposure and potential role of these contaminants for food safety.     

On the specificity of tuna-directed primers in PCR-SSCP analysis of fish and meat

Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) of an amplicon (148 bp) obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the mitochondrial cytochrom b gene used to identify tuna species was studied with other fish and animal species. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) patterns of two to four strong bands were obtained with blue ling, carp, haddock, mackerel, mackerel shark, saithe, catfish, Alaska pollack, and skipjack which, however, differed from those obtained with tuna samples. Other fish species resulted in weak (cod, spined dogfish) or no ssDNA bands (Atlantic salmon, halibut, herring, pike-perch, plaice, redfish, sprat, trout). Samples from animals other than fish resulted in strong ssDNA bands differing from those of tuna and from each other (crayfish; cattle, European rabbit, fallow deer, hare, horse, red deer, roe deer; goose, turkey), in bands differing from tuna but not from each other (domestic goat/sheep, domestic pig/wild boar), or in weak bands (octopus, shrimp; chicken, duck). Increasing the stringency of PCR caused a more pronounced difference between strong and weak ssDNA bands. Inter-laboratory reproducibility of the method was good.     

Sensory characteristics of british sausages: Relationships with composition and mechanical properties

The appearance, texture and flavour of cooked British sausages were assessed by 11 trained panellists using their analytical profile of 19 attributes, each of which was rated on an unstructured line scale. Five independent components were isolated, accounting for 86% of the sensory variation. ‘Saltiness’ was the only independent attribute. A map of sausage quality showed that ‘skin toughness’, ‘firmness’ and ‘meatiness’ were related closely to the principal sensory axis, and ‘juiciness’ and ‘fattiness’ to the second principal axis. The attributes of appearance describing the degree of doneness, and those describing comminution in appearance and in texture, were related to both principal axes. Mapping instrumental measurements into the sensory space showed that puncture and compressive strengths and nitrogen content were the best measures of variation on the first principal axis, indicating a toughness/tenderness component influenced by lean meat content. Fat increased juiciness, but, as salt or rusk increased, sausages were drier and more cohesive. Adhesion and cohesion were assessed as ‘cohesiveness’. ‘Fattiness’ and ‘saltiness’ were related poorly to fat and salt contents, respectively. ‘Fattiness’ decreased in tough, dry sausages of low pH, and ‘saltiness’ decreased as pH, fat and ‘dryness’ increased. In commercial sausages, the effects of comminution on eating quality could override those of formulation.     

Effect of clove extract pretreatment and drying conditions on lipid oxidation and sensory discrimination of dried omena (Rastrineobola argentea) fish

Sun‐drying is a low‐cost, low‐technology fish preservation method frequently employed in developing areas. However, the process promotes lipid oxidation and its associated undesired flavours and odours. This study investigated low‐technology solutions for impact on lipid oxidation and sensory attributes of oven‐dried omena fish (Rastrineobola argentea). Two oven‐drying conditions and four doses of clove water extract ‘dip’ pretreatments were studied in a complete factorial design. Lipid oxidation in dried fish was assessed by TBARS, peroxide value and fatty acid analysis by GC‐FID. Results showed that soaking in 10 g L^?1 clove water extract for 1 h and oven‐drying at 150 °C × 30 min significantly reduced TBARS and peroxide values in omena fish by 77% and 79%, respectively, and polyene index showed improved retention of long‐chain polyunsaturated fats, compared to original drying condition. Lastly, panellists of a triangle test were able to discriminate between biscuits made with the modified and original dried fish.     

Fatty Acid Profile and Selected Chemical Contaminants in Yellowfin Tuna From the Arabian Sea

Fresh yellowfin tuna (n = 110) collected for a period of one year was analyzed for chemical composition, fatty acids, nutrients, and toxic metals. The mean values of investigated minerals were 892, 2834, 0.81, 6.61, 0.38, 11.0, 0.94, 0.59, 0.71, 0.53, and 0.29 mg kg^–1 for Na, K, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cr, Sr, and V, respectively. Average Cd, Pb and Hg levels were 0.016, 0.029 and 0.137 mg kg^?1, respectively. The average concentrations of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 196.56, 84.8, and 218 mg 100g^–1, respectively. Yellowfin tuna contained higher DHA (148.2 mg 100g^–1) than EPA (29.3 mg 100 g^–1). A meal with 100 g of this species provides 48.6 and 71.05% of the required daily level of protein and EPA+DHA, respectively. Yellowfin tuna showed low thrombogenic (0.27) and atherogenic (0.43) potential and the value obtained for h/H index (1.97) indicates that regular intake of yellowfin tuna may bring hypocholesterolemic effect. All contaminants in the studied fish were either undetectable or present at very low levels when compared to the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), and European Union regulatory standards and yellowfin tuna would be one of the best options for people who frequently consume tuna fish to get sufficient EPA+DHA and essential elements.     

What does it mean to check-all-that-apply? Four case studies with beverages

The use of check-all-that-apply (CATA) questions in product-focused consumer research on foods and beverages is now common, and the method is known to provide valid sensory product characterisations. Extensive methodological research has been conducted and has supported uptake, but understanding of how consumers complete CATA questions is incomplete, particularly with regard to their decision to select or not a term to describe the sensory properties of products. The present research was situated within this gap, and using open-ended questions participants (n = 636) were asked to describe how they perceived a pair of samples with regard to an attribute and link this to CATA term selection. The results, obtained for taste (‘sweet’ and ‘sour/acidic’) and flavour (‘cinnamon’ and ‘smoky’) confirmed consumers’ ability to accurately perform sensory characterisation tasks. In particular, it was found that: i) the great majority of the consumers accurately used the CATA terms for describing the sensory characteristics they perceived in a sample, ii) when a term was not selected for describing samples, the majority of the consumers indicated that the corresponding sensory attribute was not perceived, iii) when a term was selected for describing only one of the samples in a pair, consumers reported to have perceived a difference in attribute intensity between the samples. Thus, CATA questions remain a desirable option for sensory product characterisation tasks with consumers, but should be selected with thought as they may not always be able to achieve desired sample discrimination due to the binary nature of the responses.     

Thawing, Refreezing and Frozen Storage Effects on Muscle Functionality and Sensory Attributes of Frozen Cod (Gadus morhua)

Thawing and re-freezing of cod fillet blocks did not necessarily result in greater deterioration (relative to a ‘once frozen’ control) of cooked fish sensory attributes after 9 months frozen storage at –22°C. Thawed and refrozen fish muscle displayed a faster decline in myofibril protein solubility than once frozen controls and had reduced water-holding capacity but analysis of proton spin-spin relaxation times indicated no change in water location. The decline in protein solubility was not caused by complete protein unfolding. Long thawing times (30 hr) before re-freezing and storage resulted in cooked fish with more gray appearance and more stale flavor. Changes in fish muscle functionality did not enable direct inference of sensory attributes.     

High pressure technology as a tool to obtain high quality carpaccio and carpaccio-like products from fish

This work evaluates the physicochemical and sensorial qualities of salmon, tuna and desalted “bacalao”, thinly sliced as carpaccios, and subjected to 15-min of continuous pressure and pulsed pressure in three 5-min steps (200–300 MPa at 7 °C). Pressurization of salmon and tuna gave rise to an increase in the shear strength of carpaccios, a reduction of the water and lipid binding properties and an increase in the total colour difference. Though these changes were also detected by the sensory panel, the resulting pressurized products obtained high scores for acceptability. Desalted “bacalao” carpaccio was more stable under high pressure and sensory analysis revealed that in most treatments the raw attributes had been retained. The results obtained by applying pressure in one or three consecutive cycles were, in general, the same. High-pressure treatment was shown to be an adequate tool for obtaining high-quality desalted “bacalao” carpaccio, whereas salmon and tuna suffered a loss of raw attributes. However the resulting products acquired new sensory features which were highly accepted by the sensory panel.Industrial relevanceNowadays, there is a growing interest in consuming raw or minimally processed foods and among fishery products, carpaccio are becoming increasingly popular. The present work deals with the effect of high pressure on the physico-chemical and sensory attributes of carpaccios made from salmon, tuna, and desalted “bacalao”. High pressure may be an adequate tool to obtain high quality carpaccio or carpaccio-like products, as the products acquired new sensory features which were highly accepted by the sensory panel. From the industry viewpoint the application of high pressure to fish carpaccios may be appealing in a two way: firstly, the resulting carpaccio are presumably free of parasites and present a better microbiological quality, thereby increasing the shelf-life. Secondly, products may acquire new sensory attributes that can be very appreciated by consumers.