Quality Characteristics of Fresh Rainbow Trout as Perceived by the Danish Processing Industry

The views of Danish processors were sought in an attempt to identify criteria considered important for fresh pan-sized rainbow trout Onchorhynchus mykiss. Principle component regression (PCR) analysis, carried out on the survey data revealed that two components accounted for 55% of the parameter variance. The first component, describing morphometric characteristics, explained 33% of variance and the second, describing skin appearance, explained 22% of the variance. A significant correlation (P < 0.001) was obtained between fillet colour and fillet colour appeal, with preference for white flesh in fish fed unpigmented feed.