![Sample our Food Science & Technology journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5936/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Food-Science-Technology.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
The use of dietary antioxidants to increase the shelf life of farmed southern bluefin tuna (SBT) flesh was examined over a 10-week period using either a standard pellet (Control) or high-vitamin pellet (HV) fortified with vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium. Following harvest, muscle samples were taken and assessed for antioxidant content. Flesh color shelf life was assessed in muscle stored at 4°C for 8 days. Muscle vitamin levels were significantly higher in the HV group than the Control group for vitamin E (20.4 ± 1.74 vs 9.7 ± 0.89 mg/kg) and vitamin C (29.1 ± 4.36 vs 4.3 ± 0.41 mg.kg–1), but selenium levels were not higher. Muscle samples from the HV group had a slower rate of browning than did those from the Control group, particularly over days 4 to 7 of storage. Results indicated that feeding a diet approximately 10 times higher in dietary antioxidants raised levels of vitamin E and vitamin C, but not selenium, in tuna flesh and increased the shelf life of tuna.
This work was funded through the Aquafin CRC and the Australian Government Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by DSM Nutritional Products Australia. Mr. Brenton Ebert, Ms. Kellie Stead, and Ms. Erin Bubner provided valuable technical support for this research.
Notes
Buchanan, J. G. 2007. Aquafin CRC—SBT Aquaculture Subprogram: Quality and nutritional evaluation of baitfish used for tuna farming Aquafin CRC Project A1.2 (FRDC Project No. 2000-221.20) final report.
D'Antignana, T. 2007. The effect of pre- and post-mortem factors on the flesh quality characteristics of farmed southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii). PhD Thesis, Flinders University.