Microbial quality of frozen Pangasius hypophthalmus as influenced by industrial processing in Vietnam

Subtitle:De invloed van de industriële verwerking op de microbiologische kwaliteit van diepgevroren Pangasius hypophthalmus in Vietnam

Pangasius, a freshwater fish, plays an important role in aquaculture in Vietnam. To date, Pangasius products have become appreciated by consumers from different markets all over the world. In European countries Pangasius is commonly marketed in the form of frozen fillets. Despite the booming export of Pangasius products from Vietnam, at the moment very little scientific information is available about the microbiological quality of this product. Therefore, the general aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of frozen Pangasius fillets as influenced by industrial processing. Firstly, the evolution of the microbial quality and safety of frozen Pangasius fillets processed industrially in Vietnam and marketed in Belgium was evaluated. Secondly, the dynamics of microbial contamination was assessed in Pangasius processing lines substantially oriented to export by means of a microbial assessment scheme combined with a self-assessment questionnaire. Lastly, to evaluate the efficacy of chlorine used in the washing water in some processing plants in Vietnam, decontamination of Pangasius fillets and disinfection of the wash water was studied elaborately on both an industrial and laboratory scale.

ISBN:9789059897953

Publication year:2015

Accessibility:Open