Effects of ice storage on post-mortem quality changes and shelf life of Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) in Bangladesh

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ice (flake ice, size 2 mm) storage period (10 days) on biochemical (proximate composition, pH, K-value, trimethylamine nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, total volatile basic nitrogen, peroxide value, and acid value), microbiological (aerobic plate count), and sensory quality changes in Hilsa ( Tenualosa ilisha ). Biochemical composition analysis indicated a significant increase in moisture content from 63.83% to 67.07%. However, the protein and lipid contents decreased gradually from 19.85% to 16.72% and 13.85% to 10.03%, respectively, and the ash content increased from 2.19% to 4.78%. Total volatile basic -nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values increased significantly, reaching 39.32 mg/100 g and 2.28 mg MDA/kg of lipid on the 10th day, respectively. K-value and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) levels reached 71.66% and 18.89 mg N/100 g on the 10th day, respectively, exceeding the acceptable limit. Peroxide value and acid value were increased, with the former reaching 23.25 meq/kg and 16.63 mg KOH/g of lipid on the 10th day, respectively. The microbial load steadily increased from 2.96 to 7.67 log CFU/g. Sensory evaluation indicated acceptable quality up to the 8 th day of ice storage condition. The findings of the study concluded that the shelf life of Hilsa ( T . ilisha ) was considered acceptable limit up to 8 days during ice storage.