STUDY OF OXIDATION INDICES OF SOME FISH MEAT IMPORTED TO IRAQ

This study was conducted to determine the validity of three species of frozen fish imported to Iraq. A comparison was made between the status of whole fish and fillets of the same species, and then a comparison was made among the three species of fish: seabream Sparus aurata, seabass Dicentrarchus labrax and tuna Tunnus alalunga, depending on some oxidation tests of frozen fish samples, included determination of free fatty acids (FFA) mg/100 mg fat, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) mg N_2 100g-1 meat, peroxide value (PV) meq Kg-1 meat, and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) mg MDA Kg-1 meat. The results recorded significant differences (P<0.05)) between the case of whole tuna and the fillet of thiobarbituric acid. The results showed that significant differences (P<0.01) were recorded in the total volatile nitrogen value of whole seprim fish and fillets, while tuna fish recorded significant differences (P<0.05)) between the state of whole fish and the fillets. The results recorded significant differences (P<0.01)) in the peroxide value between the state of whole fish and fillets for cyprim fish. The results showed, based on the examinations and comparison with the local and international specifications, that the meat of the fish under study, seabream, seabass and tuna imported to Iraq is considered suitable for human consumption.