Using tilapia trim meat (TTM), a by-product from industrial-scale tilapia fillet manufacturing, for production of fermented fish sausage (FFS) may increase the benefit to the tilapia filleting industry by selling this new product to consumers. Six ratios of TTM:tilapia fillet meat (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) were used for sausage production. FFS samples prepared with each ratio were collected on days 0, 2, 4 and 6, and analyzed for quality parameters including lactic acid bacteria (LAB), total plate count (TPC), yeast and mold (YM), texture profile analysis (TPA), CIE color values (L*, a* and b*), pH, titratable acidity and sensory acceptability. The ratio of TTM to tilapia fillet
meat had no effect on YM, b*, pH and titratable acidity. The 0:100 ratio produced lower LAB, TPC and L* values compared to 100:0, 80:20 and 60:40. The ratio also yielded a higher a* than 100:0 and 80:20. The 0:100 ratio generated the best TPA, followed by 20:80. However, these two ratios were not significantly different concerning sensory acceptability. The 20:80 ratio, giving similar sensory quality to 0:100, is recommended for the production of FFS. The results also reveal that FFS ripened on day 2 and ratios of TTM:tilapia fillet meat did not affect the ripeness of the product. The best quality of FFS was found on day 4.

Fermented fish dip is a popular condiment in Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Thai fermented fish dip (TFFD), can be dried to increase its shelf life and ease of transportation. Dried TFFD can be rehydrated to return the powder to its original, paste-like form. Pre-cooked TFFD paste was dried at three different temperatures (40, 60, and 80 ºC). Total plate count, yeast and mold count, CIE colour values (L*, a*, and b*),non-enzymatic browning, and sensory scores of the resulting powders were determined. The CIE colour values and sensory scores were alsoanalysed for rehydrated TFFD. Increasing the drying temperature did not affect the total plate count or yeast and mold count. When dried at 80 ºC, the L* value of TFFD powder was reduced, although the a* and b* values were unaffected compared with lower temperatures. All CIE colour values of rehydrated TFFD decreased as drying temperature increased. Drying temperature did not affect the sensory scores of dried TFFD powder. However, rehydrated samples that had been dried at 80 ºC had significantly lower sensory colour scores than those dried at 40 or 60 ºC. Overall preference rankings of dried and rehydrated TFFD dried at 40 and 60 °C were better than for those dried at 80 °C. Due to an undesirable colour change in the rehydrated product, 80 ºC was deemed to be an unsuitable temperature for drying TFFD paste. In conclusion, both 40 and 60 ºC are appropriate temperatures for drying the product.