There are still many fish species, by-catches and processing by-products worldwide remaining under-or unutilized. The unutilized stocks can be converted into refined and cryostabilized mince blocks for further use in the development of various value-added seafood products with innovative formulation strategies. The trend of developing formulated mince-based seafood products is growing, as evidenced at various seafood trade shows. This chapter focuses on identifying the source of commercially viable fish mince, cryostabilization of fish mince, lipid oxidation, and its control of high omega-3 fatty acid mince, appropriate formulation strategies based on their physical characteristics and types of products to be developed, feasibility of manufacturing surimi-mince blend products, the role of ingredients and processing methods in texture and flavour modifications, and frozen storability.
Background information
Rationale for the development of fish mince technologyWith ever increasing pressure on the supply of traditional fish species from the ground fish stock diminishing in recent years, effective utilization of non-traditional fish species as well as processed by-products becomes vital to the survival of today's seafood industry worldwide. Currently, there are several species in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean that are identified as not overfished, though seasonal. They include mackerel, herring, and red hake [1]. In addition, pink and chum salmons in the Northeast Pacific Ocean are not being optimally utilized, although they are available in abundance. Along with such non-traditional and less optimally utilized species, there is also an oversupply of processed by-products, such as fish frames and trimmings from cod, Alaska pollock, catfish, flounder, and other ground fish from the filleting operation. For example, the volume of pollock processing by-products was estimated to be 550,000 metric tonnes in 2008 [2]. The breakdown of by-product components was 33% frames, 32% viscera, 26% heads, and 9% skin [3].
Handbook of Seafood Q uality, Safety and Health ApplicationsEdited by Cesarettin Alasalvar, Fereidoon Shahidi, Kazuo Miyashita and Udaya Wanasundara