Utilisation of Sardinella longiceps in a Value Added Product Development in the Form of Omega-3 Enriched Instant Soup Powder

Abstract

Indian Oil Sardine or Sardinella longiceps is one of the most abundantly caught
clupeoidsunder coastal pelagic fisheries in Sri Lanka. So far, there is no evidence of utilising
it in a possible value added food product efficiently even though it is available throughout the
year and easily affordable at a low cost.

Most of the small pelagic fish like Sardinella longiceps are considered as best sources of
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Yet, there are no studies have been done to assure
whether these health friendly fatty acids are consumed as they are, when fish is cooked.
This study was designed to determine the effects of cooking on Omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids of Sardinella longiceps by comparing Gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic
fatty acid profiles of raw, boiled and fried fish and then utilising the fish in an innovative and
value added product development emphasising the enhancement of Omega-3 PUFA intake.
Omega-3 PUFA content of raw fish was 21.54% (of total fatty acids). With cooking, it has
decreased and the resulted values were 14.23% and 2.83%, respectively in boiled and fried
fish. Since average per capita fish consumption of Sri Lanka is 30.5 g, frying, which can be
identified as the most popular cooking method of Sardines like small fish (due to lots of tiny
bones present with lesser flesh), cannot provide the recommended minimum“EPA” Omega 3
intake (0.22 g per person) when taken alone without any other Omega-3 sources. As a
solution for this issue, an instant soup powder which was incorporated with fish oil and fish
powder derived from Sardinella longiceps was developed containing 9.31% of Omega-3
PUFA, which is significantly higher than that of fried fish. It can provide 0.6 g of EPA and
1.9 g of DHA per serving which are higher than the recommended values of minimum daily
intake. As a whole or a part of a meal, an instant soup enriched with Omega-3 can be more
nutritious and a convenient way to elevate the Omega-3 intake.

Keywords: Omega-3 PUFA, EPA, DHA, Soup, Recommended daily intake