In this study, changes in the total carotenoid content of the fillet of rainbow trout, pigmented with astaxanthin supplemented diet, stored at -20ºC, in vacuum packaging for 2, 4 and 8 month periods were inverstigated. Total carotenoid concentration of the fillets did not change during the first two month storing period but the loss was 1.58 % and 3.58 for the 4 th and 8 th months, respectively. Yet, these changes were not signigicantly different than the level measured at the beginning of the experiment (P>0.05). It is concluded that carotenoid losses from the flesh do not affect the quality of the fillet and consumer demand.

In this study, changes in the total carotenoid content of the fillet of rainbow trout, pigmented with astaxanthin supplemented diet, stored at -20ºC, in vacuum packaging for 2, 4 and 8 month periods were inverstigated. Total carotenoid concentration of the fillets did not change during the first two month storing period but the loss was 1.58 % and 3.58 for the 4 th and 8 th months, respectively. Yet, these changes were not signigicantly different than the level measured at the beginning of the experiment (P>0.05). It is concluded that carotenoid losses from the flesh do not affect the quality of the fillet and consumer demand.