For example, in Japan, it is well
known that the water-leaching method elutes ammonia from thefish muscle meat that is prepared for surimi and other processedseafood (Ohta, 1980).However, the water-leaching process may
also reduce the nutrient content and flavour. Volatile basic nitrogen
compounds including ammonia, trimethylamine, and other amines
are responsible for most of the pungent fishy odours emitted from
seafood (Pacquit et al., 2007). These alkaline products are readily
solvated in an acidified solution rather than in alkaline and neutral
solutions. Therefore, if the meat is of pH 7 or higher, the pungent
fishy odour is strong.
In this study, to reduce the ammonia content in shark meat,
yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were screened for ammonialowering
capacity. The ammonia-lowering effects of the selected
yeasts and LABs on soaking meat with sucrose and NaCl solution
were examined. Furthermore, the potential of the water extract
suspension of rice bran (nuka) for use as a growth medium, for the
selected ammonia-lowering yeast and LAB was examined.