AN EDIBLE FOOD PRODUCT FROM ARMORED CATFISHES (Pterygoplichthys spp.)

R.H.G.R. Wathsala*, G.P.S.I.Karunarathna, N.W.I.A. Jayawardana, K. D. R. Jayasena, A.M.K.R. Bandara and B.M.K.S.Tilakaratne
 
*Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
wathsalarasika@yahoo.com

Tank cleaner or Armored Catfishes has become one of the invasive species in fresh water bodies in Sri Lanka. Currently, there is no any identified measure to control this species as well as it does not have food value among Sri Lankans. Hence this study was conducted to develop an edible food product for human using tank cleaner. Fish samples were obtained from Huruluwewa tank, Galenbindunuwewa, Anuradhapura, North central Province, Sri Lanka. Three different processing techniques were used to prepare the fish samples i.e. T1-Fish samples were cooked in boiling water and minced; T2-Surimi technique (minced fish samples were washed with ice water and dehydrated); T3-Fish samples were minced without any treatment. Other ingredients were equally added to the prepared fish samples and fish balls were prepared. The fish balls were stored under frozen condition (-18 °C) for further analysis. Proximate analyses for fat, protein, fiber, moisture and ash were carried out using developed products. pH, Total plate count (TPC) and presence of E-coli were tested at 0, 7, 14 21 and 28 day from storage. Sensory evaluation was conducted at 0, 7, and 14 day with fried fish balls. Results revealed that, three treatments showed a significantly different (p<0.05) with regard to the sensory attributes at day 0 and thereafter the difference was insignificant (p>0.05). However, the highest estimated rank sum was observed in T2 at day 0. pH did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) among the treatments throughout the storage. Result of proximate analyses showed that fat, ash and fiber contents were significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments. Protein content was significantly lower (p<0.05) in T2 and moisture content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T3 compared to others. All the developed products were negative for TPC and E-coli during the storage period. However, further studies are recommended to evaluate the heavy metals in these samples to ensure the safety.