Introduction
Salmon is a highly popular premium seafood product, but its processing involves strict food safety, quality control, and compliance requirements. Factories must carefully follow standardized operating procedures to ensure the product remains safe, fresh, and compliant with both domestic and international regulations. Donc, what key aspects require special attention during salmon processing?
1. How to Ensure the Freshness and Safety of Raw Salmon?
The quality of raw materials directly determines the final product’s quality, so factories must rigorously control the inspection and storage of salmon.
Key Parameters for Salmon Freshness Assessment
- Freshness Inspection: Check for bright color, normal odor (no spoilage), bright red gills, and clear eyes. If necessary, use an ATP bioluminescence detector to quickly assess microbial contamination.
- Cold Chain Management: Salmon must be kept refrigerated at 0-4°C throughout the process, while frozen salmon should be stored below -18°C. For thawing, slow refrigeration (0-4° C) is recommended to prevent juice loss and texture degradation.
- Parasite Control: For raw salmon (Par exemple, sashimi), deep freezing (-20°C for 7 days or -35°C for 15 heures) is required to kill Anisakis, complying with FDA or EU standards.
2. How to Avoid Contamination and Ensure Hygiene During Processing?
The processing stage is critical for food safety, and factories must establish strict hygiene management systems.
Microbiological Standards for Processed Salmon
| Microorganism | Acceptable Limit (CFU/g) | Testing Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Total Plate Count | ≤100,000 | Daily |
| E. coli | ≤10 | Daily |
| Salmonella | Absent in 25g | Weekly |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Absent in 25g | Weekly |
| Staphylococcus aureus | ≤100 | Weekly |
- Processing Environment Requirements: Workshops must comply with Haccp ou ISO 22000 standards, with regular disinfection of equipment and tools using ozone water or sodium hypochlorite to prevent bacterial growth.
- Personnel Hygiene Management: Workers must wear sterile uniforms, gloves, and masks, and strictly follow handwashing and disinfection protocols to avoid cross-contamination (especially for ready-to-eat products).
- Time and Temperature Control: Processing time should not exceed 2 heures (ambient temperature ≤12°C), and chilled disinfectant water (≤5°C) should be used for rinsing to inhibit microbial proliferation.
3. How to Effectively Control Chemical and Biological Risks?
Salmon may face risks such as additive misuse and microbial contamination, requiring targeted measures.
Maximum Residue Limits for Common Additives
| Additive | EU Limit (mg/kg) | US FDA Limit (mg/kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfites | 50 | 10 |
| Sodium benzoate | 200 | 1000 |
| Sorbic acid | 1000 | 1000 |
| Polyphosphates | 5000 | 5000 |
- Additive Compliance: Illegal bleaching agents like sulfites are prohibited, and all preservatives must meet import country standards (Par exemple, EU No 1333/2008).
- Microbial Monitoring: Regularly test for pathogens like Listeria et Salmonella. Ready-to-eat salmon should have a total bacterial count ≤100 CFU/g.
- Allergen Management: If the production line also processes other fish or allergen-containing ingredients, labels must clearly state “may contain fish” (per FDA 21 CFR Part 117).
4. How to Optimize Packaging to Extend Shelf Life?
Proper packaging techniques can effectively maintain salmon’s freshness and texture.
Shelf Life Comparison Under Different Packaging Methods
- Emballage d'atmosphère modifiée (CARTE): Adjust CO₂ and N₂ ratios (typically 50% CO₂ + 50% N₂) to inhibit bacterial growth and extend shelf life, while ensuring airtight packaging.
- Quick-Freezing Technology: Use Congélation rapide individuelle (Iqf) to reduce the core temperature to below -18°C within 30 minutes, preventing ice crystal damage to the flesh.
- Label Compliance: Clearly mark origin, catch date, shelf life, and storage conditions (Par exemple, “Store below -18°C”) in accordance with China’s GB 7718 and export market regulations.
5. How to Achieve Environmental Sustainability and Byproduct Utilization?
Salmon processing generates significant byproducts, requiring sustainable handling methods.
Byproduct Utilization Efficiency
| Byproduct | Utilization Method | Yield Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Heads | Fishmeal production | 85-90% |
| Bones | Calcium supplements | 75-80% |
| Skin | Collagen extraction | 60-70% |
| Viscera | Omega-3 oil extraction | 50-60% |
- Byproduct Recycling: Fish heads and offal can be processed into fishmeal or Omega-3 fatty acid extracts to improve resource efficiency.
- Wastewater Treatment: Processing wastewater must undergo oil removal and biochemical treatment to meet discharge standards and avoid environmental pollution.
- Sustainable Sourcing: Opt for MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) or ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certified salmon to meet global environmental standards.
6. How to Establish a Comprehensive Traceability System?
A complete record-keeping and traceability system is essential for food safety.
Traceability Data Requirements
| Data Category | Retention Period | Recording Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier Information | 2 années | Per shipment |
| Processing Parameters | 1 year | Continuous |
| Quality Test Results | 2 années | Per batch |
| Storage Conditions | 1 year | Daily |
| Distribution Records | 2 années | Per shipment |
- Full Batch Records: Document raw material batches, processing times, and test data to enable rapid recalls if needed.
- Electronic Traceability System: Data must be retained for at least 6 months after the product’s shelf life for regulatory review.
Conclusion
Salmon processing involves multiple critical steps, from raw material inspection, hygiene management, and risk control to packaging and sustainability measures. Every stage must be carefully monitored. Exported products must also meet the special requirements of markets such as Japan and the EU (Par exemple, radioactive residue testing, veterinary health certificates). Factories should regularly commission third-party testing to guarantee safety and compliance, thereby earning consumer trust and expanding into international markets.