Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Quality and Shelf Life of Salted Bonito (Sarda sarda)

In this study, the fresh meat of bonito (Sarda sarda) was used to make lakerda, which is a type of salted fish (Turkish traditional product). The lakerda was packaged in plastic film (A), vacuumed (VP), placed in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; M1 = 80%/20% CO₂/N₂, M2 = 65%/35% CO₂/N₂, M3 = 30%/60%/10% CO₂/N₂/O₂), and stored at 2 ± 1°C. Microbiological, chemical, sensory, and color analyses were conducted to determine the changes in quality. Total viable bacteria counts did not exceed the limit of consumption (7 log cfu/g) for all groups on Day 31. Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine- nitrogen (TMA-N) values of M1, M2, and M3 remained lower than the proposed acceptability limits of 35 and 12 mg N/100 g, respectively, up to 31 days of storage. However, VP lakerda samples exceeded TVB-N limits after 31 days of storage, whereas A lakerda samples exceeded after 8 days of storage. In our study, sensory analysis determined the shelf life of modified atmosphere packaged lakerda. When Group A is compared with the other groups, MAP and VP lengthened the shelf life of lakerda by 23 days.