Effect of water-soluble chitosan in combination with glutathione on the quality of pen shell adductor muscles.

In this study, the effects of the water-soluble chitosan (WSC) in combination with glutathione on preservation of pen shell adductor muscles (PSAM) during frozen storage were investigated. The PSAM samples were soaked in the solution containing 0.1% WSC in combination with 0.1% glutathione (treatment group) or in water (control group), and then they were stored under frozen conditions for 10 months, during which the samples were taken periodically and their total viable count, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, and overall acceptability score were evaluated. Compared with the control group, treatment of WSC in combination with glutathione resulted in slower bacterial growth, lower pH increasing, lower total volatile basic nitrogen, and higher overall acceptability score of PSAM during frozen storage. The results show that treatment with WSC in combination with glutathione could prolong the shelf life of PSAM for up to 10 months.