EFFECT OF FROZEN STORAGE ON PLEUROPLOCA TRAPEZIUM MEAT

Abstract

The horse conch, Pleuroploca trapezium is a marine gastropod that is landed in huge amount as by-catch along Gulf of Mannar. Their beautiful shells and operculum are being used for ornamental and medicinal purposes. Even though the meat is not being used locally, small quantities are being exported to Southeast Asian countries like Taiwan. These basic data relating to nutritional quality emphasize the need of promotion of this underutilized gastropod meat on par with other sea foods.  Normally the sea food is preserved at a low temperature to reduce the post harvest loss and quality deterioration during extended period of storage.  The shelf life of frozen stored Pleuroploca meat as such and after dip treated with chemicals was determined.  The meat without any pretreatment had a shelf life of 4 months, while the meat dip treated with Orthophosphoric acid and Potassium nitrate had a shelf life of 5 and 6 months respectively. Thus Potassium nitrate can be used for dip treatment to extend the storage life of the meat under frozen storage.