23
addition to control the development of black spot (melanosis) in shrimps has been
used worldwide for many years. In addition, sulphides are commonly used as antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial growth in stored shrimps (Maldhavi et al.
1995). Although sulphides are effective in enzymatic browning, they are used in
limited amounts due to their negative health effects. The accumulation levels of
sulphites cause health problems in some consumer individuals, especially asthma
patients (Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2007; Gokoglu 2004; Rotllant et al. 2002). In the
literature, there are reports describing allergic reactions of sensitive individuals after
consumption of sulphide-containing foods (FDA 2000). Therefore, sulphite concentrations are limited by the regulations. However, the regulation that determines the
maximum tolerated SO 2 /kg level in crustacean tissues varies between countries and
organizations. Following oral intake of food treated with sulphide, allergic asthma
has been shown to cause reactions in the body (Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2005b). It is
also stated that sulphide residues initiate acute poisoning when they reach soft tissues, and in some cases, they can lead to death with difficulty of breath, cyanosis,
and pulmonary oedema (Atkinson et al. 1993).
Alternative methods have been investigated to prevent enzymatic browning in
shrimp due to the health problems caused by sulphites. 4-Hexylresorcinol (Hardisson
et al. 2002; Benner et al. 1994; Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2005a; Mendes 2006) is one
of the effective alternatives proposed and effective to prevent enzymatic browning.
4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) is stable in salt water, does not lose its effectiveness in the
presence of organic materials and is effective even at much lower concentrations
than sulphides. In this respect, it has been suggested that 4-hexylresorcinol may be
highly effective in inhibiting decay in crustaceans in many studies. The low level of
residues in the edible part of the shrimp and the lack of a toxicological feature in
terms of consumer health are among the advantages of 4-hexylresorcinol over sulphides. Many researchers have suggested the use of 4-HR as an alternative to sulphite. The use of this product prevents potential health risks, such as hypersensitivity
reactions due to sulphide. There are several studies involving the addition of this
compound to different types of crustaceans. The effects of different doses were
demonstrated in these studies. These investigations reported the effective doses to
be 50 mg/kg for brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and pink shrimp (Penaeus duodarum) (McEvily et al. 1991; Otwell et al. 1992) and 100 kg/mg for deep water pink
shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) (Guandalini et al. 1998). Other researchers
reported 8% inhibition with 1000 mg/kg concentration in tiger shrimp (Penaeus
japonicus) (Montero et al. 2001a). These different findings may be due to interspecies differences, cyclic changes in physiological sensitivity, or melanosis inhibitor concentration and the method of administration used.
In a study, shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) was treated with 4-hexylresorcinol
on the fishing vessel at different times of the year and it was reported that this inhibitor prevented the development of melanosis and at the same time increased shelf life
with increasing concentration (Montero et al. 2006). Montero et al. (2001a) reported
that 4-hexylresorcinol was effective in preventing melanosis at a concentration of
0.5% applied to shrimps immediately after death. Some studies have been carried
out on pink shrimp (Penaeus duodarum) stored in ice, and it has been found that
2.1 Shrimps/Prawns
addition to control the development of black spot (melanosis) in shrimps has been
used worldwide for many years. In addition, sulphides are commonly used as antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial growth in stored shrimps (Maldhavi et al.
1995). Although sulphides are effective in enzymatic browning, they are used in
limited amounts due to their negative health effects. The accumulation levels of
sulphites cause health problems in some consumer individuals, especially asthma
patients (Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2007; Gokoglu 2004; Rotllant et al. 2002). In the
literature, there are reports describing allergic reactions of sensitive individuals after
consumption of sulphide-containing foods (FDA 2000). Therefore, sulphite concentrations are limited by the regulations. However, the regulation that determines the
maximum tolerated SO 2 /kg level in crustacean tissues varies between countries and
organizations. Following oral intake of food treated with sulphide, allergic asthma
has been shown to cause reactions in the body (Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2005b). It is
also stated that sulphide residues initiate acute poisoning when they reach soft tissues, and in some cases, they can lead to death with difficulty of breath, cyanosis,
and pulmonary oedema (Atkinson et al. 1993).
Alternative methods have been investigated to prevent enzymatic browning in
shrimp due to the health problems caused by sulphites. 4-Hexylresorcinol (Hardisson
et al. 2002; Benner et al. 1994; Martínez-Alvarez et al. 2005a; Mendes 2006) is one
of the effective alternatives proposed and effective to prevent enzymatic browning.
4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) is stable in salt water, does not lose its effectiveness in the
presence of organic materials and is effective even at much lower concentrations
than sulphides. In this respect, it has been suggested that 4-hexylresorcinol may be
highly effective in inhibiting decay in crustaceans in many studies. The low level of
residues in the edible part of the shrimp and the lack of a toxicological feature in
terms of consumer health are among the advantages of 4-hexylresorcinol over sulphides. Many researchers have suggested the use of 4-HR as an alternative to sulphite. The use of this product prevents potential health risks, such as hypersensitivity
reactions due to sulphide. There are several studies involving the addition of this
compound to different types of crustaceans. The effects of different doses were
demonstrated in these studies. These investigations reported the effective doses to
be 50 mg/kg for brown shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and pink shrimp (Penaeus duodarum) (McEvily et al. 1991; Otwell et al. 1992) and 100 kg/mg for deep water pink
shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) (Guandalini et al. 1998). Other researchers
reported 8% inhibition with 1000 mg/kg concentration in tiger shrimp (Penaeus
japonicus) (Montero et al. 2001a). These different findings may be due to interspecies differences, cyclic changes in physiological sensitivity, or melanosis inhibitor concentration and the method of administration used.
In a study, shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) was treated with 4-hexylresorcinol
on the fishing vessel at different times of the year and it was reported that this inhibitor prevented the development of melanosis and at the same time increased shelf life
with increasing concentration (Montero et al. 2006). Montero et al. (2001a) reported
that 4-hexylresorcinol was effective in preventing melanosis at a concentration of
0.5% applied to shrimps immediately after death. Some studies have been carried
out on pink shrimp (Penaeus duodarum) stored in ice, and it has been found that
2.1 Shrimps/Prawns