Macrobrachium rosenbergii, deman, 1879) as affected by melanosis inhibiting compounds Food Research

A problem associated with shrimp is blackspot or melanosis and to prevent blackspot, sulfites have been used for years but come with additional health risks. Newer 4-hexylresorcinol formulations exist that allow sulfite-free shrimp, but effects on the quality of Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798, and Macrobrachium rosenbergii, de Man, 1879, beyond melanosis prevention are unknown. Adverse effects on the quality of the shrimp from melanosis prevention treatments would negatively offset the benefits of a sulfite-free product. In order to determine if prevention compounds (sulfite powder or 4-hexylresorcinol based compounds, Everfresh® and Xyrex® Prawnfresh™) affect quality, proximate composition and total plate count of bacteria were determined for cultured (P. monodon and M. rosenbergii) shrimp in Bangladesh. The results showed no effect of melanosis prevention compound on proximate composition (p > 0.05), but for each parameter, species were significantly different (p < 0.001). For total plate count, treatment was not significantly different (p = 0.09), but species were significantly different in total plate count (p < 0.001). M. rosenbergii had a higher total plate count. Results of this study indicated that proximate composition and bacterial levels are not affected by 4-hexylresorcinol melanosis treatments. Melanosis prevention is necessary to reduce loss due to unacceptance, and 4-hexylresorcinoltreated shrimp can provide the industry with a sulfite-free alternative.