Effect of gamma rays and combined treatment between irradiation and other factors to quality of dried cuttle fish and ready-to eat cuttle fish

The paper showed that the microbial contamination on dried cuttle fish produced from different sources was rather high: 106 - 108/g of sample. E.Coli, Cl.perfringens, Staphylococcus and fungi were found in all samples. Irradiation dose of 3 kGy combined with NaCl (10%) and benzoate natri 0.2% or NaCl (10%) and sorbate kali (2%) reduced total bacterial counts to 104/g. Microbial contamination on ready-to eat dried cuttle fish was 103/g. The pathogenic bacteria were still found in some cases. Fungi contamination was 102 - 105/g in all tested samples. Samples with initial moisture of 21 -26% irradiated at 2 kGy or without irradiation have been attacked by mould after 1 - 1.5 months of storage while there was no mould growth on samples of 19% moisture treated with 2 kGy or on samples of higher moisture but irradiated at 3 kGy, after 9 months of storage. There was not difference in enumeration of microorganisms in dried cuttle fish at 20 - 24 oC and 30 - 32 oC, as well as for two kinds of packaging. (author). 4 refs, 4 tabs