Bruna Rodrigues¹, Thiago Alvares², Marion Costa^{1, 3}, Guilherme Sampaio¹, César Aquiles Lázaro De La Torre⁴, Pedro Panzenhagen¹, Eliane Mársico¹, Sérgio Mano¹, Carlos Conte-Junior^{1, 5,}

The current study investigated the effectiveness of short-wave ultraviolet (UV-C) radiation on rainbow trout fillets inoculated with Proteus mirabilis when combined with Modified Atmosphere Packaging technology (MAP). Rainbow trout were inoculated, packaged under different ratios of CO₂ and N₂ gases and subjected to UV-C radiation. Our study model demonstrated that at least 0.1001 J/cm² is necessary to significantly reduce Proteus mirabilis loads (reduction of 1.8 log CFU.g^-1) in trout fillet packaged without CO₂ gas barrier. The rainbow trout fillet packaged with CO₂ gas barrier had significantly reduced Proteus mirabilis load but not when associated with UV-C radiation exposure. The combined effect of UV-C and MAP at different radiation doses and ratios of CO₂ and N₂ gas did not contribute to Proteus mirabilis growth reduction. Overall, the use of MAP significantly reduces the penetration and effect of UV-C radiation when compared to the unpackaged control. The combination of these two technologies of food preservation does not seem to be a suitable model to extend the shelf life of packaged fish fillet.

freshwater fish, UV-C radiation, modified atmosphere package, Proteus mirabilis, shelf life