Using Modeling to Predict Alaska Pollack Quality during Storage

Abstract

Several quality parameters affecting Alaska pollack, Theragra chalcogramma, were measured and modeled kinetically under storage at different temperatures: the K-value, trimethylamine (TMA), volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), Torry meter, pH, acid value (AV), total viable cell count (TVC), and colony forming units (CFU) of Pseudomonas spp. The off-flavor development time (ODT) was also measured using the R-index sensory test and modeled kinetically. Among the quality parameters, the CFU of Pseudomonas spp. was an indicator of the ODT according to a similarity in the Arrhenius temperature dependence, which was derived as a criterion mathematically. The temperature dependence was represented by the Arrhenius's activation energy (E a ). On comparing the E a of the quality factors and the ODT, the similarity in the temperature dependence was found to be high in the order Pseudomonas spp., pH, VBN, TVC, K-value, TMA, AV, and Torry meter. Therefore, Pseudomonas spp. was identified as the primary indicator of ODT.