Enzymatic hydrolysis is a novel method to recover highly potent bioactive fish protein hydrolysates (FPHs) from fish processing side-streams. The common way of producing FPHs directly from fish side-streams may be inappropriate due to the excess of lipids and pro-oxidants, especially in lipid-rich streams, as obtained from Tra catfish. This study aimed to optimise the hydrolysis conditions for a commercial enzyme (Alcalase® 2.4 L) (enzyme concentrate, temperature, and time) in FPH production from the fish protein isolate obtained from Tra catfish dark muscle (DM-FPI) using the pH-shift method. The degree of hydrolysis (DH), protein recovery (PR), and antioxidant properties, including DPPH radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and total reducing power capacity (TRPC), were measured to evaluate the effects of the hydrolysis conditions on the FPHs. Optimal hydrolysis was obtained at an enzyme/substrate protein ratio of 3% (v/w) and a hydrolysis temperature of 50 °C for 3 h. The FPHs obtained from different substrates, including DM-FPI, abdominal cut-off (ACO) FPI, and head and backbone blend (HBB) FPI, had similar DHs under these optimum conditions, ranging from 22.5% to 24.0%. However, the FPH obtained from abdominal cut-off isolate (ACO-FPH) showed the highest PR of 81.5 ± 4.3% and the highest antioxidant properties, with a DPPH-RSA of 86.1 ± 1.6% and a TRPC of 6.4 ± 0.4 equivalent mg vitamin C/g protein. The resulting FPHs present a natural source of antioxidants with great potential for food applications, especially the ACO-FPH. In addition, all FPHs had excellent amino acid profiles, indicating strong potential for their use as supplements. Tra catfish protein-rich side-streams can thus be processed into high-value bioactive FPHs using Alcalase for human consumption.

Increasing protein demand has led to growing attention being given to the full utilization of proteins from side streams in industrial fish processing. In this study, proteins were recovered from three protein-rich side streams during Tra catfish (Pangasius hypophthalamus) processing (dark muscle; head-backbone; and abdominal cut-offs) by an optimized pH-shift process. Physicochemical characteristics of the resulting fish protein isolates (FPIs) were compared to industrial surimi from the same raw material batch. The pH had a significant influence on protein extraction, while extraction time and the ratio of the extraction solution to raw material had little effect on the protein and dry matter recoveries. Optimal protein extraction conditions were obtained at pH 12, a solvent to raw material ratio of 8, and an extraction duration of 150 min. The resulting FPI contained <10% of the fat and <15% of the ash of the raw material, while the FPI protein recovery was 83.0–88.9%, including a good amino acid profile. All FPIs had significantly higher protein content and lower lipid content than the surimi, indicating the high efficiency of using the pH-shift method to recover proteins from industrial Tra catfish side streams. The FPI made from abdominal cut-offs had high whiteness, increasing its potential for the development of a high-value product.

Physicochemical changes of Icelandic golden redfish (Sebastes marinus) as affected by seasonal variation (June and November) and raw material freshness (processed 4 and 9 days postcatch) during frozen storage (at −25°C for 20 months) were studied to find optimal conditions for production of high‐quality frozen products. Thawing loss, cooking yield, and color of the fillets as well as chemical composition, water holding capacity, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, lipid oxidation, and hydrolysis of the light and dark muscle were analyzed every 4 months of frozen storage. Lipid hydrolysis was the main degradation process in the light muscle, while the dark muscle was more affected by lipid oxidation. Fish caught in November showed greater instability in the analyzed parameters during storage than fish caught in June, which could be linked to differences in individual poly unsaturated fatty acids between the two seasons. The quality attributes of fish processed on day 9 were similar to fish processed 4 days postcatch, except slightly higher thawing loss and yellowness, were observed in fish processed 9 days postcatch. Stability of golden redfish through frozen storage was higher in the fish caught in June than in November.

The effects of sorbitol, ethanol, and vitamin C on sensory quality, water content, peroxide value and microorganism of tilapia fillets were investigated. Fish fillets were immersed in a 10% brine solution (ratio of v/w: 3:1) for 15 minutes. After being drained, the fish were divided into 3 Groups: Group 1: (Control Group): Salted fish were sun dried for six hours; Group 2: salted fish were seasoned (sorbitol 8% combined with ethanol 39.5%-30ml/kg salted fish); Group 3: salted fish were seasoned (sorbitol 8% combined with vitamin C 0.4%). After being seasoned for 20 minutes, then drained for 20 minutes, fish fillets were dried in the sun for 6 hours. Fish were then dipped in a 0.5% chitosan solution for 20 seconds, drained, then vacuum packed (85%) in PA bags and then chilled stored at 2±2ºC. Using sorbitol combined with ethanol reduced water content faster than the Control Group and vitamin C Group in the same drying time. This decrease was from 80% to 50%. The sensory evaluation score was also higher in Group 2 compared to others. On the other hand, Group 3 showed the lowest peroxide value. After 3 weeks of chilled storage, sensory quality of all groups was satisfactory according to TCVN 3215-79, microorganism was still guaranteed at a safe level of use according to 46/2007/QĐ-BYT. Ảnh hưởng của sorbitol, ethanol, và vitamin C đến chất lượng cảm quan, hàm lượng ẩm, chỉ số peroxide và vi sinh vật của sản phẩm cá rô phi phi lê một nắng đã được nghiên cứu. Cá phi lê được ngâm nước muối 10% (tỉ lệ v/w: 3:1) trong thời gian 15 phút sau đó vớt ra để ráo. Chia cá thành 3 nhóm: Nhóm 1: phơi nắng ngay trong 6h (nhóm đối chứng); Nhóm 2: tẩm phụ gia (sorbitol 8%; ethanol 39,5%-30ml/kg nguyên liệu); Nhóm 3: tẩm phụ gia (sorbitol 8%; vitamin C 0,4% so với nguyên liệu). Sau khi tẩm 20 phút, cá được để ráo 20 phút rồi mang đi phơi nắng trong 6h. Từng miếng cá sau khi phơi một nắng được nhúng vào dung dịch chitosan 0,5% trong 20 giây, để ráo rồi bao gói hút chân không (85%) trong bao PA sau đó bảo quản ở nhiệt độ lạnh (2±2ºC). Kết quả cho thấy sử dụng sorbitol kết hợp với ethanol đã làm giảm độ ẩm của sản phẩm nhanh hơn trong quá trình phơi, sau 6h giảm từ 80% xuống 50% đồng thời chất lượng cảm quan cũng cao nhất. Nhóm sản phẩm có sử dụng sorbitol kết hợp với vitamin C có chỉ số peroxide thấp nhất. Sau 3 tuần bảo quản chất lượng cảm quan đạt loại khá theo TCVN 3215-79, chỉ tiêu vi sinh vật vẫn đảm bảo ở mức sử dụng an toàn theo quyết định 46/2007/QĐ-BYT.