• Energy Research

Global fisheries production has increased up to ~200 MT, which has resulted in the intensive generation of waste or byproducts (~20 MT), which is creating serious problems for environmental management with zero income. This study proposes an idea of using whole fish (red and white meat, skin, bones, and fins but not scales) for human food (snack food) with the aim of zero waste generation. Whole fish powder (WFP) was prepared by a novel method (using freeze-drying as well as stone ball milling) and fortified in baked snacks at four levels (0, 5, 10, and 15% w/w of 100 g of formulation). The results revealed that the addition of WFP decreased expansion and color parameters compared to control. Hardness was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the addition of WFP, which was attributed to the mineral content of WFP. Pasting properties determined by rapid visco analyzer (RVA) were dramatically decreased with the addition of 10–15% WFP, suggesting the weak interaction of starch and protein, which was also evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis revealed that the amount of free water was increased when 10–15% WFP was added in snacks while bound water was highest in control and 5% WFP samples, respectively. The microstructural analysis by SEM showed that the protein network was increased in those samples incorporated with WFP compared to control that had more starch granules. The results suggest the feasibility of adding 5% WFP for proper structure, texture, pasting properties, and water distribution in order to reduce fish waste.

Sustainable food supply has gained considerable consumer concern due to the high percentage of spoilage microorganisms. Food industries need to expand advanced technologies that can maintain the nutritive content of foods, enhance the bio-availability of bioactive compounds, provide environmental and economic sustainability, and fulfill consumers’ requirements of sensory characteristics. Heat treatment negatively affects food samples’ nutritional and sensory properties as bioactives are sensitive to high-temperature processing. The need arises for non-thermal processes to reduce food losses, and sustainable developments in preservation, nutritional security, and food safety are crucial parameters for the upcoming era. Non-thermal processes have been successfully approved because they increase food quality, reduce water utilization, decrease emissions, improve energy efficiency, assure clean labeling, and utilize by-products from waste food. These processes include pulsed electric field (PEF), sonication, high-pressure processing (HPP), cold plasma, and pulsed light. This review describes the use of HPP in various processes for sustainable food processing. The influence of this technique on microbial, physicochemical, and nutritional properties of foods for sustainable food supply is discussed. This approach also emphasizes the limitations of this emerging technique. HPP has been successfully analyzed to meet the global requirements. A limited global food source must have a balanced approach to the raw content, water, energy, and nutrient content. HPP showed positive results in reducing microbial spoilage and, at the same time, retains the nutritional value. HPP technology meets the essential requirements for sustainable and clean labeled food production. It requires limited resources to produce nutritionally suitable foods for consumers’ health.