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E-nose based control charts for fish freshness evaluation
Susanna Buratti1, Silvia Grassi1, Paolo Giuseppe Ubaldi2
1Department of Food, Environmental, and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy.
Food Research International (Ottawa, Ont.)
|April 19, 2025
Summary
This study developed an electronic nose (e-nose) system to rapidly assess fish freshness during distribution. The e-nose method effectively monitored seafood quality and was validated against microbial testing.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Fish quality is crucial throughout the supply chain, especially during distribution.
- Rapid assessment methods are needed for real-time quality monitoring at distribution centers.
- Current methods can be time-consuming, limiting timely quality control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simplified electronic nose (e-nose) system for evaluating fish freshness.
- To establish warning and control limits for fish quality using e-nose data.
- To validate the e-nose method against traditional microbial analyses.
Main Methods:
- A portable e-nose system with metal oxide semiconductor sensors, a photoionization detector, and electrochemical cells was employed.
- Five seafood products (cuttlefish, red mullet, Atlantic cod, Atlantic mackerel, mantis shrimp) were monitored throughout their shelf life.
- E-nose data was correlated with Total Viable Count (TVC) microbial analyses.
Main Results:
- The e-nose system successfully differentiated fish quality based on odor profiles.
- Warning and control limits were identified using e-nose data, correlating with microbial load.
- Control charts developed from e-nose measurements provided a validated tool for quality assessment.
Conclusions:
- The developed e-nose approach offers a rapid and simplified method for monitoring fish freshness in distribution.
- This technology can aid in maintaining seafood quality and safety throughout the supply chain.
- E-nose measurements provide a reliable alternative or complementary tool to microbial testing for fish quality assessment.
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