National Research Council of Canada

Marek E Krzymien

Lorne Elias

A simple but precise procedure for measuring fish freshness in terms of trimethylamine (TMA) headspace concentration of a fish sample is provided based on air sampling the headspace with Carbotrap.RTM. or Tenax.RTM. sorbent tubes and subsequent thermal desorption and gas chromatographic analysis. The sampling and analysis are completed in less than five minutes. Fish freshness as determined by the TMA headspace concentration is consistent with the grading estimated by organoleptic tests, but the instrumental method provides a more objective and quantitative assessment of quality and an estimation of the post mortem age of the fish.

Growing community of inventors

Gloucester, Canada

Marek E Krzymien