The Effectiveness of Different Treatments in Preventing Melanosis in Shrimp

Abstract

The effectiveness of different treatments to prevent melanosis in fresh deepwater pink shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) was evaluated. Fresh shrimps were divided into six groups and immediately were dipped in tap water and acetic acid (control group 1 and 2), and solutions containing chitosan with high deacetylation degree and low deacetylaton degree, sodium metabisulphite, citric acid for ten minutes. After treatment the shrimps samples were packed and stored at +4°C. Melanosis index, sensory characteristics and colour parameters were determined periodically during the cold storage. Sodium metabisulphite showed strong properties of delaying melanosis development during cold stogare. The results of this study indicated that treatment with chitosan solutions did effect a statistically significant difference. In addition, the results showed that chitosan from shrimps wastes could be easily used instead of sodium metabisulphite