Nawar Khadra*(1), Omar Al-Naser(1), Mahmoud Abdulkareem(1), and Ali Othman(2)
(1). Department of Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.
(2). General Authority for Fish Resources, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Nawar Khadra, Email: nkhadra@yahoo.com.).
Received: 13/05/2023 Accepted: 30/08/2023
Abstract:
This study was conducted during the academic year 2021-2022 in the laboratories of the Department of Food Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture – Aleppo University to investigate the effect of packaging solutions on the quality properties of bluefin tuna. The results showed increased protein content and high nutritional value of bluefin tuna. The microbiological analysis of canned tuna in salt, tomato paste, and sunflower oil solutions indicated the absence of pathogenic bacteria. Chemical analysis of tuna meat preserved in different solutions revealed a significant increase in true protein content, non-protein nitrogen ratio, and volatile nitrogen values of meat pieces preserved in oil compared to other samples. A significant difference was also observed in the salt content of meat pieces preserved in a salt solution compared to other samples, while meat pieces preserved in tomato paste showed a significant increase in acidity. Regarding the chemical composition of the preservation solutions, an increase in true protein content, non-protein nitrogen ratio, volatile nitrogen values, and acidity was observed in tomato paste solution, while a significant difference was observed in the salt content of the salt solution. Sensory evaluation indicated that tuna preserved in salt or oil received positive evaluations from consumers, while those preserved in tomato paste received lower evaluations.
Key words: Bluefin Tuna, Canning, Tuna Products, Tuna Preserving, Qualitative Properties
Full paper in Arabic: pdf