Abstract

This paper describes the development of a mathematical model to predict consequences of temperature abuse on shelf-life of Pacific Hake packed in modified atmosphere. The model includes simultaneous heat and mass transfer phenomena coupled with a predictive shelf-life model for packed fish. The model was solved using an explicit finite difference scheme. The simulated results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The model predicted temperature, gas concentration and relative humidity within < 0.6 [°C], < 1.43% and 3%, respectively. Shelf-life model predicts that, even if the fraction of the total storage time at an abusive temperature is small (4.3%), the reduction in shelf-life can be significant (25%). The predicted shelf-life without temperature abuse is consistent with literature results. Optimum MAP systems must reach pseudo-equilibrium headspace gas composition which maximize the shelf-life of food considering possible environmental temperature abuses.