What are Fish Additives and Why Do We Need Them?
There are few foods more enjoyable than a freshly caught kabeljou or a pail of mussels taken straight from the sea. The truth, however, is that in most cases, unless you catch them yourself and cook them on the spot, they are likely to be anything but freshly caught. To remain viable, commercial fishermen must secure large catches which often require long periods at sea. Just as refrigeration is essential, so too are fish additives. They are necessary to preserve the appearance, texture, and taste of many species destined for human consumption.
The Need for Preservation
Seawater, with its abundance of salts, can act as a natural preservative to some degree while the practice of packing the catch in dry salt is one that has long been used with great success. However, although this type of treatment can inhibit bacterial growth and subsequent decay, many marine species are prone to more subtle forms of deterioration. Without prior treatment with the appropriate fish additives, even though they may be free of any bacterial contamination, many species would still be unacceptable to consumers.
When we go shopping for crustaceans such as crab, crayfish or prawns, for example, we tend to associate freshness with white or pink colouration. Any sign of blackened flesh would immediately sound danger signals and probably discourage us from purchasing anything at all from the store in question. The blackening, known as melanosis, is a natural process that affects several species. Though harmless, the appearance is decidedly off-putting and completely preventable with the use of a fish additive produced by Tequisa and known as TQI MELACIDE P/4 ST. A second Tequisa product, TQI ANPEX PRE/BF, will not only help to preserve the colour of crustaceans but will also act to improve their texture, their flavour and their shelf-life.
Post-mortem discolouration is common to several varieties of marine life. Highly-coloured species such as Red Roman are particularly prone, as are squid and calamari. Even, in the case of white fish, it will often be necessary to treat them with a suitable fish additive to help maintain that freshly-caught appearance which can be so important when hoping to secure the best price for your catch.
The Tequisa Range – Fully Compliant with Regulations
The Tequisa range also includes products to enhance the appearance of frozen fish products; to prevent glazed fish products against the risk of shattering; to eliminate the sour taste of giant squid; and to ensure the removal of surface bacteria from all species. All in all, the Spanish manufacturer produces a range of more than 100 products for the food industry.
It is not, however, sufficient for fish additives to perform as advertised. In the past, too many chemicals used in food processing have posed a threat to health. This threat prompted the issue of standards with which manufacturers must comply if foodstuffs treated with their products are to be deemed safe for consumption.
All of the Tequisa fish additives supplied to the commercial fishing industry are subject to stringent quality controls, and are fully compliant with the regulations prescribed by the World Health Organisation and the European Union, as well as both the American FAO and FDA. They are available at all major coastal cities in southern Africa.
