Yellow Tainting of Flesh in Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus): Origin of the Color and Procedures for Removal

Yellow Tainting of Flesh in Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus): Origin of the Color and Procedures for Removal

Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is a commonly farmed fish in ponds in Bangladesh but its yellow flesh color creates a barrier for export. Here, we investigated if feed ingredients and environmental parameters might impact yellow tainting of the flesh. In experimental feeds, maize (a typical ingredient in commercial feeds) was replaced by soybean meal, and frequent exchange of pond water was introduced. Chemical analyses showed that the commercial feed was high in carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene; 18.8 mg/kg) as compared to the experimental feeds (≤1 mg carotenoids/kg). After feeding the fish commercial and experimental feeds for 9 months, the content of total carotenoids in the flesh was reduced by 48% to 64% and visual yellowness by up to 47% by the experimental feeds. Weekly or biweekly water exchange in combination with the experimental feeds further reduced the yellow coloration to 22% relative to fish given commercial feed and without water exchange. Our study demonstrates that pangasius with white flesh can be produced in Bangladesh by combining feeds low in pigments with frequent water exchange.

___

  • Abedin, M.J., Abu, M., Bapary, J., Majumdar, B.C., Haque, M.M., Control, Q. (2017). Water quality parameters of some Pangasius ponds at Trishal Upazila , Mymensingh , Bangladesh. European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience, 5, 29–35. www.biosciencejournals.com; ISSN: 2321-9122
  • Alam, M.M., Haque, M.M., Aziz, M.S. Bin, Mondol, M.M.R. (2019). Development of pangasius–carp polyculture in Bangladesh: Understanding farm characteristics by, and association between, socio-economic and biological variables. Aquaculture, 505, 431–440. [CrossRef]
  • Ali, H., Haque, M.M., Belton, B. (2013). Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Sauvage, 1878) aquaculture in Bangladesh: An overview. Aquaculture Research, 44, 950–965. [CrossRef]
  • Amar, E.C., Kiron, V., Satoh, S., Watanabe, T. (2004). Enhancement of innate immunity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) associated with dietary intake of carotenoids from natural products. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 16, 527–537. [CrossRef]
  • Amaya, E., Nickell, D. (2015). Using feed to enhance the color quality of fish and crustaceans. In D.A. Davis (Ed.), Feed and Feeding Practices in Aquaculture. (pp. 269–298). Woodhead Publishing Series in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition. Amsterdam: Elsevier. [CrossRef]
  • Aruna, G., Baskaran, V. (2010). Comparative study on the levels of carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene in Indian spices of nutritional and medicinal importance. Food Chemistry, 123, 404–409 [CrossRef]
  • Babin, A., Saciat, C., Teixeira, M., Troussard, J.P., Motreuil, S., Moreau, J., Moret, Y. (2015). Limiting immunopathology: Interaction between carotenoids and enzymatic antioxidant defences. Development & Comparative Immunology, 49, 278–281. [CrossRef]
  • Belton, B., Haque, M.M., Little, D.C., Sinh, L.X. (2011). Certifying catfish in Vietnam and Bangladesh: Who will make the grade and will it matter? Food Policy, 36, 289–299. [CrossRef]
  • Blainey, P., Krzywinski, M., Altman, N., 2014. Replication. Natural Methods, 11, 879–880. [CrossRef]de Carvalho, C.C.C.R., Caramujo, M.J. (2017). Carotenoids in aquatic ecosystems and aquaculture: A colorful business with implications for human health. Frontiers in Marine Science, 4, 93. [CrossRef]
  • DoF (2018). Yearbook of Fisheries Statistics of Bangladesh 2017-18. Fisheries resources survey system (FRSS), Department of Fisheries. Bangladesh: Ministry of Fisheries, 35, 129. www.fisheries.gov.bdFAO (2018). http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I9540EN/ - The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 - Meeting the sustainable development goals.
  • FAO (2019). http://www.fao.org/fishery/culturedspecies/Pangasius_hypophthalmus/en#tcNA0112Gouveia, L., Rema, P., Pereira, O., Empis, J. (2003). Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass. Aquaculture Nutrition, 9, 123–129. [CrossRef]
  • Hoque, M.S., Haque, M.M., Hossain, M.I., Mahmud, S., Mandal, A.K., Badiuzzaman, Frederiksen, M., Larsen, E.P., Nielsen, M. (2021). Yellow fillets of Pangasius in Bangladesh: Prospects and challenges in international market.
  • Hu, B., Roy, L.A., Davis, D.A. (2013). Correlations of xanthophylls in catfish fillets, plankton, shad and snails in catfish production ponds in west Alabama. Aquaculture, 402–403, 46–49. [CrossRef]
  • Jespersen, K.S., Kelling, I., Ponte, S., Kruijssen, F. (2014). What shapes food value chains? Lessons from aquaculture in Asia. Food Policy, 49: 228-240. [CrossRef]
  • Kim, J.K., Lee, S.Y., Chu, S.M., Lim, S.H., Suh, S.-C., Lee, Y.-T., Cho, H.S., Ha, S.-H. (2010). Variation and correlation analysis of flavonoids and carotenoids in Korean pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58, 12804–12809. [CrossRef]
  • Lee, P.H. (1987). Carotenoids in cultured channel catfish, 1987, PhD Dissertation. Auburn University, Alabama, USA, 84 pp.
  • Li, M.H., Robinson, E.H., Oberle, D.F., Lucas, P.M., Peterson, B.C., Bates, T.D. (2011). Clearance of yellow pigments lutein and zeathanxin in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, reared at different water temperatures. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 42, 105–110. [CrossRef]
  • Li, M.H., Robinson, E.H., Oberle, D.F., Zimba, P. V. (2007). Effects of various dietary carotenoid pigments on fillet appearance and pigment absorption in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 38, 557–563. [CrossRef]
  • Li, Y., Liu, S., Cline, D., Chen, S., Wang, Y., Bell, L.N. (2013). Chemical treatments for reducing the yellow discoloration of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets. Journal of Food Science, 78, 1609–1613. [CrossRef]
  • Li, Y., Wang, Y., Boyd, C.E., Hanson, T.R., Liu, S. (2017). Evaluation and optimization of chemical treatments for reducing yellow discoloration of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets during cold storage. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology, 26,132–137. [CrossRef]
  • Liu, F., Qu, Y.K., Wang, A.M., Yu, Y.B., Yang, W.P., Lv, F., Nie, Q. (2019). Effects of carotenoids on the growth performance, biochemical parameters, immune responses and disease resistance of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) under high-temperature stress. Aquaculture, 503, 293–303. [CrossRef]
  • Liu, S., Li, Y., Wu, Y., Bell, L.N., Davis, D., Wang, Y. (2012). Extraction, identification and quantitation of carotenoids in discolored channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 26, 154–159. [CrossRef]Lovell, T. (1998). Nutrition and feeding of fish, 2nd ed. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers. [CrossRef]
  • Lovell, T. (1984). The yellow fat problem in fish flesh. Aquaculture Magazine, 10, 39–40.Lushchak, V.I., Bagnyukova, T. V. (2006). Effects of different environmental oxygen levels on free radical processes in fish. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 144, 283–289. [CrossRef]
  • Maoka, T., Yokoi, S., Matsuno, T. (1989). Comparative biochemical studies of carotenoids in nine species of cephalopoda. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Comparative Biochemistry, 92, 247–250. [CrossRef]
  • The Fish Site (2019). Pangasius For Western Aquaculture | The Fish Site: https://thefishsite.com/articles/pangasius-for-western-aquaculture
  • Park, H., Flores, R.A., Johnson, L.A. (1997). Preparation of Fish Feed Ingredients: Reduction of carotenoids in corn gluten meal. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 45, 2088–2092. [CrossRef]
  • Phan, L.T., Bui, T.M., Nguyen, T.T.T., Gooley, G.J., Ingram, B.A., Nguyen, H. V., Nguyen, P.T., De Silva, S.S. (2009). Current status of farming practices of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Aquaculture, 296, 227–236. [CrossRef]
  • Qiufen, D., Yong, Y., Shi, S. (2012). Nutrition and changes in fish body colouration in catfish. AQUA Culture Asia Pacific Magazine, January/February, 26–28.
  • Roy, S., Llewellyn, C., Egeland, E.S., and Johnsen, G. (2011). Phytoplankton pigments: Characterization, chemotaxonomy and applications in oceanography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, UK, 845 pp [CrossRef]
  • Schlüter, L., Behl, S., Striebel, M., Stibor, H. (2016). Comparing microscopic counts and pigment analyses in 46 phytoplankton communities from lakes of different trophic state. Freshwater Biology, 61, 1627-1639. [CrossRef]
  • Sessa, D.J., Eller, F.J., Palmquist, D.E., Lawton, J.W. (2003). Improved methods for decolorizing corn zein. Industrial Crops and Products, 18, 55–65. [CrossRef]
  • Shahidi, F., Metusalach, Brown, J.A. (1998). Carotenoid pigments in seafoods and aquaculture. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 38, 1–67. [CrossRef]
  • Sheehan, E.M., O’Connor, T.P., Sheehy, P.J.A., Buckley, D.J., FitzGerald, R. (1998). Stability of astaxanthin and canthaxanthin in raw and smoked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) during frozen storage. Food Chemistry, 63, 313–317. [CrossRef]
  • Snodderly, D.M. (1995). Evidence for protection against age-related macular degeneration by carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62, 1448–1461. [CrossRef]
  • Trono, D., (2019). Carotenoids in cereal food crops: Composition and retention throughout grain storage and food processing. Plants, 8, 551; [CrossRef]
  • Uddin, M.T., Rasel, M.H., Dhar, A.R., Badiuzzaman, M., Hoque, M.S. (2019). Factors determining consumer preferences for pangas and tilapia fish in Bangladesh: Consumers’ perception and consumption habit perspective. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology, 28,438–449. [CrossRef]
  • Van Heukelem, L., Thomas, C.S. (2001). Computer-assisted high-performance liquid chromatography method development with applications to the isolation and analysis of phytoplankton pigments. Journal of Chromatography A, 910, 31-49. [CrossRef]
  • Wathne, E., Bjerkeng, B., Storebakken, T., Vassvik, V., Odland, A.B. (1998). Pigmentation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed astaxanthin in all meals or in alternating meals. Aquaculture, 159, 217–231. [CrossRef]
  • Waycott, B. (2015). Pangasius Farming: An overview. https://thefishsite.com/articles/pangasius-farming-an-overview.
  • Wu, T., Yao, Y., Sun, S., Wang, C., Jia, H., Man, W., Fu, L., Song, W., Wu, C., Jiang, B., Hou, W., Ren, G., Han, T., (2016). Temporospatial characterization of nutritional and bioactive components of soybean cultivars in China. Journal of the American Oil Chemists ́Society, 93,1637-1654 ; [CrossRef]
  • Young, A.J., Lowe, G.M. (2001). Antioxidant and prooxidant properties of carotenoids. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 385, 20–27. [CrossRef]
  • Yujing, S., Liping, Q., Liezhou, Z., Xingqian, Y. (2012). Recent advances of carotenoids bioactivities. Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, 12, 160–166.
  • Zimba, P. V., Mischke, C.C., Brashear, S.S. (2003). Pond age - Water column trophic relationships in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatusproduction ponds. Aquaculture 219, 291–301. [CrossRef]