Impact of aqueous extract of arbutus unedo fruits on limpets (Patella spp.) pâté during storage: proximate composition, physicochemical quality, oxidative stability, and microbial development

Acknowledgments: The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic project UIDB/04292/2020 granted to MARE and the Integrated Programme of SR&TD “Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate” (reference Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), co-funded by Centro 2020 Programme, Portugal 2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund. Further, the authors thank the funding through the LAPA-31-04-01-FEP-199 project “LAPA—Lapa para aquacultura e para paté” financed by PROMAR/GACoeste, act n.º 3.5, July 2012, axis of Value & Promotion of fishery.

Limpets are molluscs widely used in food diet and much appreciated in many regions. The consumption of fishery products rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids has been increasing through filleted products and restructured products. Since food oxidation is the major cause of nutritional quality deterioration in fish products, the interest in the replacement of synthetic antioxidants with natural sources, namely in the preparation of restructured animal products such as burgers, sausages and pâtés, has been increasing. Phenolic compounds from fruits and vegetables have recognised antioxidant properties and are therefore currently considered as good alternatives to synthetic antioxidants in the food industry. In this study, the effects of the extracts of Arbutus unedo fruits, at two concentration levels (3% and 6%), on proximate composition, hysicochemical properties, oxidative stability and safety of limpets pâté, during 90 days at refrigerated storage, were investigated. After processing, the addition of 3% and 6% of A. unedo extracts into limpets pâté contributed to an increase of 18% and 36% in the total phenolic content and 5% and 36% in the antioxidant capacity, respectively. During storage, the enriched limpets pâté with A. unedo fruit extracts at 6% was more efficient as an enhancer of oxidative stability, with 34% inhibition of lipid oxidation, highlighting the potential use of A. unedo fruits as a functional ingredient in the fish industry. Overall, the limpets pâté with 6% of A. unedo fruit extracts proved to be more efficient regarding microbial control, and had the lowest changes in the quality parameters such as in colour, texture and pH during 90 days at refrigerated storage.

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