Fish quality is important in the food industry. Studies on the nutritional, microbial and minerals in Indian mackerel fish are limited. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the quality and production of fish products (balls and fingers). Additionally, the effect of frozen storage for six months on the microbial, nutritional and sensory evaluation of fish balls and fingers was studied. The obtained results showed that the estimated minerals (zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and mercury) contents in Indian mackerel muscles were lower than the maximum permissible limits for human consumption. The levels of total bacterial counts and total yeast counts in Indian mackerel purchased from three different stores varied. After 6 months of storage, the microbial content decreased in Indian mackerel fish balls and fingers to less than 2.0×102 CFU/g, which was due to the effect of freezing on the growth and activity of microorganisms, while the carbohydrate, fat and energy contents increased, and the ash, protein and moisture contents decreased; however, Indian mackerel fish fingers had elevated ash, carbohydrate, fat, protein and energy contents and a reduced moisture content after freezing. Sensory evaluation of Indian mackerel balls and fingers at the start and end of the storage period (6 months) revealed good scores for appearance, odor, texture, taste and acceptability. These results provide insights into the benefits of good-quality Indian mackerel fish in the fish product industry and their availability after storage for six months.

The aim was to develop nutritious drinks using date nectar with the two most popular Saudi date cultivars (Khalas and Sukkari) and spirulina at different substitution rates. The date puree was prepared with different concentrations of pectin enzymes. The approximate composition, microbiological quality, sugars, vitamins, and minerals of date puree and spirulina, as well as the contaminants, physical properties, fatty acids, and phytopigments of spirulina were evaluated. Chemical composition and sensory properties of the developed date drinks were also assessed. The results showed that spirulina is safe, free from contaminants and heavy metals, and appeared to contain appreciable amounts of essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytopigments. The microbiological loads of date puree and spirulina were very low, and there were no pathogenic microbes were found. Spirulina contained higher amounts of total solids, ash, protein, minerals, fiber, fat, and vitamins, than date puree, indicating its suitability as a rich source of nutrients for food fortification. In both date types, treatment of puree with 400 ppm enzyme yielded nectar with higher scores in all sensory attributes, indicating that this is a suitable concentration to yield acceptable juice amounts. The substitution of date nectar with 10% spirulina gave the highest scores for sensory attributes; consequently, this concentration was used for the formulation of functional nectar from date nectar and spirulina. Incorporation of 10% spirulina in date nectars showed a significant increase in the contents of total solids, protein, essential amino acids, ash, fat, sugars, carotenoids, and chlorophyll in the date nectars, thereby improving its nutritional and health properties.

This research was undertaken to investigate the effect of gamma rays at dose rates of 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 kGy on the chemical composition of essential oils, total antioxidants, total flavonoids and total phenols, as well as the antioxidant activity and the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and the free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) of thyme. Radiation processing increased the total phenols, total flavonoids and total antioxidants of thyme, and moderate changes were detected at doses of 5 and 10 kGy for the essential oils. Thymol was sensitive to irradiation, especially at 15.0 kGy doses. In addition, the evaluation of antioxidant activity using DPPH radical-scavenging activity indicated some decreases of antioxidant activity in irradiated samples, while thyme exposed to doses of 10 and 15 kGy exhibited a significant increase in TBA values. The irradiation process can facilitate the utilisation of thyme as a preservative ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industry.

This study investigates the impact of two extraction processes (squeezing the whole fruit and centrifuging the seeds) of pomegranate juice and storage on sweet and sour pomegranate quality attributes. The pH, acidity, and levels of organic acids, sugars and anthocyanin differed in both varieties and changed during the storage period. Fructose and glucose were the primary sugars, and citric acid was the dominant organic acid in the juice of both cultivars. A high level of established anthocyanin content was 15.40, 18.53, 18.03, 16.92, 16,68 and 15.47 mg/L when the storage period was 0, 5, 15, 32, 48 and 72 h, respectively, in the juice of sweet fruits obtained by squeezing the whole fruit. The juice prepared from the sweet fruits by squeezing method outscored, in all sensory quality attributes, the juice prepared by centrifuging process.

This research investigated the chemical analysis and sensory evaluation of low-calorie formulated pumpkin jams after storage for six months and the effects of the consumption of low-calorie jams on diabetic rats. Pumpkin jam with sucrose, fructose, stevia, and aspartame sweeteners and soybean was prepared and stored at 10°C for six months. Rats were divided into group 1 (negative control), group 2 (positive diabetic groups), and groups 3, 4, and 5 (diabetic groups treated with 10% sucrose, fructose, and stevia soybean jam, respectively). The results indicated that the contents of protein, fat, ash, and fibre were increased in the low-calorie formulated pumpkin jams. The highest sensory scores were recorded for sucrose and fructose soybean jams and then for stevia soybean jam, while the aspartame soybean jam showed significantly lower scores after storage for 3 and 6 months. Rat groups 4 and 5 showed significant decreases in the glucose level, and liver function enzymes activity showed significant increases in insulin and glycogen levels compared to group 2. Conclusion. Low-calorie pumpkin jams with soybean can be stored for 3 months at 10°C without any change. Stevia pumpkin jam with soybean has antidiabetic effects.

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It was reported that Rubian (tiger shrimp) Penaeus semislcatus, which is consumed as a regular part of the diet in the Arabian Gulf, could be beneficial due to its high content of phosphorus, zinc, calcium, copper, magnesium, and protein (Musaiger & D'Souza, 2008). The quality of fish and fish products is multifaceted and includes a wide range of issues, such as safety and freeness from health risks, nutritional value or quality, convenience, availability, and integrity, as well as the freshness of fish, sensory characteristics, physical features, type, and quantity of products. Furthermore, fishing, storage, handling, processing, and procedures, in addition to conditions such as time and temperature that affect the fish products' safety and quality are significant factors (Abbas et al., 2008). A lack of information about the enhanced fish management and postharvest processes contributes to low-quality fish products and fisheries (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2020). In order to be confident about health and safety, it is essential to maintain high levels of fish quality throughout the whole food chain, from catching to consumption (Hyldig & Green-Petersen, 2005), Consumers' requests for excellent, healthy, and safe foods is growing globally (Sen, 2005). Fish meat and seafood products are moderately unsteady in fresh and frozen preservation. The organoleptic characteristics of fish occur quickly due to multiple factors. Biochemical (i.e., enzymatic) changes and microbial effects yield quantifiable alterations in fish during fresh (iced) storage, while frozen preservation induces physical, chemical, and biochemical reactions that reduce fish quality (Woyewoda et al., 1986). Fish foods are known carriers of health risks, such as foodborne disease microbes including Salmonella sp., Vibrio sp., fungi, parasites,

Materials and methods 2.1 Collection and preparation of Indian mackerel samples Indian mackerel (R. kanagurta), 17 ± 3 cm in length, were purchased from the central fish market in Jizan, which is caught from the port of Jizan, Saudi Arabia. Fish samples were transported to the laboratory in an ice box as soon as possible and were analyzed within 24 hours of catching them. Fish were prepared by cutting the samples using sterile cutters and homogenizing obtain three samples of Indian mackerel muscle for chemical analysis, Lipid Fractions and Fatty Acids analyses.