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The effect of different colored filters and atmospheres on photooxidation and quality in milk was studied. Pasteurized bovine milk (3.9% fat) was packed in 2 different atmospheres (air and N(2)) and exposed to light for 20 h at 4 degrees C under 8 transparent filters with different light transmission properties. The following transparent, noncolored, and colored filters based on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were used: noncolored (PET), noncolored with 2 different UV-block regions, yellow, green, amber, orange, and red. Control samples were stored in darkness and in a carton. Sensory evaluation showed off flavors significantly increased in milk stored under all filters compared with the control samples. Variation in atmosphere resulted in significant differences in formation of rancid flavor in milk stored under different filters. Milk samples stored in N(2) underwent the most sensory deterioration under orange and red filters, whereas milk samples stored in air were most deteriorated under noncolored filters. According to the oxidation compounds measured by gas chromatography, milk samples stored under noncolored and orange filters were highly oxidized, whereas red, green, and amber filters offered better protection against photooxidation. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to examine the degradation of photosensitizers (riboflavin, protoporphyrin, and chlorophyllic compounds) in the milk samples. Degradation of protoporphyrin and chlorophyllic compounds in N(2) correlated well with sensory properties related to photooxidation (R(2)=0.75-0.95). The study indicates that protoporphyrin and chlorophyllic compounds were effective photosensitizers in milk. To avoid photooxidation in milk, it is therefore important to protect it against light from the UV spectrum as well as light from the entire visible region.

Biochemical, physical and sensory quality of farmed Atlantic cod subjected to percussion stunning (control), anaesthesia (AQUI-S TM ) and excessive exercise (30 min chasing before slaughter, 'stressed') were analysed after 7 days of ice storage. The white muscle energy status (initial pH, muscle twitches and high-energy phosphates) revealed that the fish were truly representatives of rested (percussion stunned and anaesthetised) and stressed cod. Sensory evaluation showed that the fillets of cod exposed to percussion stunning and AQUI-S TM anaesthesia prior slaughter had slightly higher whiteness scores, and that the fillets of AQUI-S TM anaesthetised cod had slightly shinier surfaces than the fillets of cod exposed to pre-slaughter stress. Furthermore, fillets of anaesthetised (AQUI-S TM ) cod had significantly higher inosine monophosphate (IMP) contents and lower K-values than fillets of cod exposed to pre-slaughter stress, after 7 days of ice storage. Preslaughter stress did to some extent affect fillet colour immediately after killing and after ice storage. Otherwise, no significant effects of stress were observed with regard to biochemical, physical or sensory quality (ultimate pH, water content, drip loss, water holding capacity, texture and gaping) of farmed Atlantic cod.

The objective of this work was to better understand the photosensitizing effect of riboflavin versus naturally occurring tetrapyrroles in cow's milk. This was done by exposure of milk samples to blue light (400-500 nm), which is absorbed by riboflavin and tetrapyrroles, orange light (575-750 nm), which is absorbed by tetrapyrroles but not riboflavin, and white light, which contains the entire visible region. The milk was exposed to about 1.6 W/m(2) in 20 h, and two different light sources were tested: HMI lamp and fluorescent light tubes used for commercial display. Sensory analysis showed that wavelengths longer than 575 nm induced significantly more off-flavors than wavelengths shorter than 500 nm. By fluorescence spectroscopy it was observed that tetrapyrroles, in particular, chlorophyllic compounds, were degraded more by orange light than by blue and that the degree of degradation correlated closely with the formation of sensory off-flavors. The fluorescent agent Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green (SOSG) was used to monitor the formation of singlet oxygen under the different light exposure conditions, and the method verified that singlet oxygen was formed in large proportions in milk exposed to wavelengths longer than 575 nm, presumably with minor or no involvement of riboflavin. The results suggest that cholorophyllic compounds are responsible for a major part of photooxidation in milk. It is also suggested that β-carotene protects against photooxidation under blue light because it absorbs a major portion of the light below 500 nm and thereby reduces reactions with photosensitizers.

It has previously been observed that the color of mackerel muscle is dependent on the status of heme as myoglobin and hemoglobin and hence the storage atmosphere. This study gives strong indications of this being the case also in salmon. Three different storage conditions were used to promote the oxidized, reduced, and carbon monoxide (CO) bound forms of heme in salmon and mackerel fillets. Color determination (instrumental color analysis, imaging, and sensory evaluation) and spectroscopic measurements were performed to study how spectral changes corresponded to color variations. Storage in CO significantly increased the redness in mackerel. This was also seen in salmon to such a degree that it was visible over normal levels of salmon carotenoids. Air storage increased the yellowness and reduced the redness in mackerel, but this effect was partly concealed in salmon by the astaxanthin absorption. The spectral differences due to storage condition could be ascribed to the spectral features characterizing heme of different oxidation states and bound to different ligands. The status of heme should therefore always be considered when experiments related to salmon color are performed. The findings could help in the understanding, control, and prediction of color loss in salmon during processing, storage, and transport.

The action spectrum for photooxidation in full fat bovine milk was measured. Samples of milk with air or argon in headspace were exposed to narrow wavelength bands of light in the range 400-700 nm. Photooxidation in terms of off-flavors was measured by a sensory panel, volatile compounds by headspace solid phase micro extraction (SPME-GC-MS), and photobleaching of photosensitizers in milk (riboflavin, protoporphyrin IX and a chlorophyllic compound) by front face fluorescence spectroscopy. The action spectrum deviated significantly from the absorption spectrum of milk. Significant oxidation was induced by wavelengths around 400 nm and 500-650 nm in milk with air in headspace. Argon in headspace gave significant oxidation also at 700 nm. It is suggested that protoporphyrin IX and chlorophyll are responsible for oxidation induced by wavelengths >500 nm, and that also riboflavin is contributing from 400 to 500 nm.

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In a 17-week experiment with Atlantic salmon (2.3-5.2 kg) in sea cages, a diet containing European animal by-products and salmon oil (ABP) was compared with a control diet based on fish and plant ingredients, with respect to performance and product quality. Fish fed with the ABP diet had similar growth rates, but slightly improved feed conversion ratio (feed: gain; 1.08 versus 1.14) compared with the control. No differences were seen in fish length, live weight or condition factor. Final body composition was similar and retention of nitrogen and energy did not differ between diets. Higher DPA (C22:5 n-3) content in the ABP diet apparently inhibited conversion of EPA (C20:5 n-3) to DPA, resulting in higher EPA retention in muscle and whole body. Muscle and whole body DHA (C22:6 n-3) level and n-3 : n-6 ratio were higher in the ABP group, corresponding with dietary levels. There were no differences in slaughter yield, quality classification, gaping score or fillet texture between diets. The feed with ABP contained less astaxanthin, possibly because of degradation catalyzed by iron in blood meal, and this resulted in lower muscle colour score and astaxanthin concentration (4.6 versus 6.4 mg kg À1 ). A sensory test did not reveal any differences in odour, flavour, or texture.