Study of process and quality assessment on hot smoked fish kilka production, determining its shelf life in vacuum and modified atmosphere and conventional packaging

In this study shelflife of whole hot smocked common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris) fish packed in usual, vacuum and MAP packages and stored 6 weeks at refrigerator and or frozen temperatures was studied. Samples were analysed for TVBN, PV, pH, TBA, and total count, coliforms, clostridia, psychrophile, mold and sensory attributes weekly and monthly respectively. The ratio of Co2, N2 and O2 in the MAP package was 5: 55: 40%. Results indicated that the mixture gases could decline microbial growth and chemical changes during storage. Microbial and chemical changes in control samples were greater than that found for other samples. No significant microbial and chemical changes was observed in frozen samples during 6 weeks storage except for PV . Samples had the same sensory attributes just after production but were changed during storage significantly. Shelflife of samples packed in usual and MAP packages and stored at referigeratore was 21 and 35 days respectively; while it was 3 and 5 months for frozen samples packed in usual and vacuum packages. The conclusion is that packing hot smocked Kilka fish in vacuum and MAP packages can increase shelflife and decrease economical loss due to fish spoilage