Sensory and microbial quality of irradiated crab meat products

Low dose gamma irradiation has proved effective in reducing pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in a variety of seafood products. However, little information is available on the effect of irradiation on the sensory quality and consumer acceptance of such products. We compared microbial and sensory quality of irradiated (2 kGy or less) crab products (white lump, claw, and fingers) through 14-days of ice-storage. Irradiation effectively reduced spoilage bacteria extending shelf-life by more than 3 days beyond control samples. During storage, fresh crab odor and flavor were similar for treated and control samples, while off-flavors and odors developed more rapidly in controls. Overall acceptability scores for irradiated crab samples were higher than for control samples throughout 14-days ice storage.