Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR-FTIR) and a partial least square algorithm (PLS-1) were used to predict the deterioration indices, pH, and chemical composition of Atlantic bluefin tuna, crevalle jack, and Atlantic Spanish mackerel chilled fillets. To build calibration models, 90 samples from the 3 fish species were analysed to different seasons and were stored for various times. The performance of the regression models was evaluated based on the coefficients of determination (R²), residual predictive deviation of cross-validation (RPDcv), and percentage relative difference (% RD). Chemometric models provided good reliability in the prediction of the chemical composition (R² between 0.969 and 0.992, RPDcv between 5.01 and 5.59%), the pH (R² = 0.987, RPDcv = 7.18), and can be used for screening of deterioration indices (R² between 0.944 and 0.969, RPDcv between 3.21 and 3.67%). The results demonstrated that the MIR-FTIR coupled with the PLS-1 algorithm could be simultaneously applied to predict the chemical parameters of chilled fillets of three fish species.

Avocado oil is a high-value and nutraceutical oil whose authentication is very important since the addition of low-cost oils could lower its beneficial properties. Mid-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics was used to detect and quantify adulteration of avocado oil with sunflower and soybean oils in a ternary mixture. Thirty-seven laboratory-prepared adulterated samples and 20 pure avocado oil samples were evaluated. The adulterated oil amount ranged from 2% to 50% (w/w) in avocado oil. A soft independent modelling class analogy (SIMCA) model was developed to discriminate between pure and adulterated samples. The model showed recognition and rejection rate of 100% and proper classification in external validation. A partial least square (PLS) algorithm was used to estimate the percentage of adulteration. The PLS model showed values of R² > 0.9961, standard errors of calibration (SEC) in the range of 0.3963–0.7881, standard errors of prediction (SEP estimated) between 0.6483 and 0.9707, and good prediction performances in external validation. The results showed that mid-FTIR spectroscopy could be an accurate and reliable technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of avocado oil in ternary mixtures. Graphical Abstract

The fatty acid profile of crevalle jack was compared with that of Atlantic bluefin tuna, Atlantic Spanish mackerel, red snapper, and Nile tilapia. Crevalle jack and Atlantic Spanish mackerel showed similarities in their fatty acid profiles, with the saturated fatty acid > monounsaturated fatty acid > polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern. Atlantic bluefin tuna and red snapper followed a similar pattern to each other, with the polyunsaturated fatty acid > saturated fatty acid > monounsaturated fatty acid pattern, and the pattern for Nile tilapia was saturated fatty acid > monounsaturated fatty acid ≈ polyunsaturated fatty acid. In winter, the DHA+EPA content of crevalle jack (493.2 mg/100 g fillet) was 37% lower than Atlantic bluefin tuna and Atlantic Spanish mackerel, 35% higher than for the red snapper, and 2.8 fold higher than for the Nile tilapia. The best nutritional indices were for Atlantic bluefin tuna > red snapper > Atlantic Spanish mackerel > crevalle jack > Nile tilapia.