Effect of Previous Frozen Storage, Canning Process and Packing Medium on the Fatty Acid Composition of Canned Mackerel.

This study addressed the fatty acid (FA) composition of canned Atlantic mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ). In it, the effect of prior frozen storage (6 months at -18 °C), different packing media (water, brine, and sunflower, refined and extra virgin olive oils), and canning procedure was investigated. As a result, the canning procedure led to a decrease ( p < 0.05) in saturated FA (STFA) levels, an increase ( p < 0.05) in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and total ω3 FA values, and higher PUFA/STFA and ω3/ω6 ratio values. Concerning the packing medium effect, the great presence of C18:2ω6 in sunflower oil led to high PUFA and PUFA/STFA values and low ω3/ω6 ratios when compared to other packing media. However, the high presence of C18:1ω9 in both olive oils tested did not lead to remarkable increases ( p > 0.05) of this FA presence. Additionally, the presence of total ω3 FAs, C20:5ω3 and C22:6ω3 did not provide differences in canned fish muscle as a result of using different packing media. In all canned samples, ω3/ω6 values were included in the 8.2-10.8 range. Prior frozen storage did not have a substantial effect ( p > 0.05) on the FA group (STFA, monounsaturated FA, PUFA, total ω3 FA) and FA ratio (PUFA/STFA and ω3/ω6) values.