Frozen Seafood: It’s High Time Food Processing Businesses Invest in These Food Products

Highlights:

• Introduction
• Advantages of frozen seafood products
• Hurdle technology used for food preservation
• Major product launches in the industry

An essential component of the food processing and packaging industry is the efficient storage of food items before they are processed or packed. The quality of meat and seafood products can deteriorate quickly if not stored properly. Hence, food preservation techniques have always held a special importance in the food & beverages industry. Out of all these methods, freezing is one of the oldest and most popular food preservation techniques. Freezing different kinds of seafood for their preservation has been practiced since the medieval ages.

Why have frozen seafood products gained so much importance in today’s world?

As mentioned earlier, the preservation of seafood products such as fish, shellfish, squids, lobsters, etc., by freezing is an old food preservation technique. Typically, seafood products are stored at temperatures of –18 degrees Celsius or below which helps in inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, thereby helping in preserving the food products for a longer time. Thus, the obvious benefit of freezing is that the shelf-life of the food product increases significantly. When stored in high-quality cold storage facilities, seafood products can be easily stored for around 12 months or so.

Freezing is a natural process, there is no need to add preservatives to the food product. This helps to keep the original taste of the food product intact. Also, since most preservatives contain synthetic chemicals, freezing helps in reducing the use of synthetic chemicals which increases the sustainability of the food preservation sector. Another important reason why frozen seafood products have become so popular is that they can easily be transported over large distances. Thus, even people living in deep hinterlands can have access to quality seafood products, that too all year round.

Along with access to fresh seafood products, the cost of frozen foods is also an important consideration. Frozen seafood products such as frozen fish cost around 25% less than fresh fish. Moreover, as various food processing companies have started launching their frozen food items, a wide variety of seafood products are available that cater to the different demands of seafood enthusiasts.

Development of hurdle technology for seafood preservation

As per food preservation experts, the rate of spoilage in seafood products is much higher than in other food items due to the chemical composition of these animals' flesh. This is because the microbial load on the surface of fish, shellfish, lobsters, etc., is much higher. Hence, their preservation becomes necessary and a bit difficult at the same time.

Over the years, several technologies have been devised which enhance the shelf-life of seafood products. Hurdle technology is one such advanced food preservation method; the technique mainly involves the elimination or control of pathogens that are present in seafood products. For this, the hurdle technology relies on several techniques to ensure that pathogens of all kinds are eliminated, and the final product is completely safe for consumption.

Some of the “hurdles” used in this technology include increased acidity, reduced redox potential, reduced water activity, etc. In some cases, bio-preservatives are also used to restrict the growth and action of microorganisms. Moreover, hurdle technology also involves the use of packaging films and aseptic techniques that help protect seafood products from contaminants.

How are private companies responding to the evolving nature of the industry?

The frozen seafood industry is a dynamic one with several trends emerging in the market in the past few years. Moreover, with many leading players competing for dominance in the sector, the dynamism of this industry is expected to rise in the coming period. Some companies in the food processing industry have even launched their products which will further expand the scope of this industry. For instance, in February 2023, Red Lobster®, a casual dining restaurant chain in America, announced the launch of its first-ever seafood product range. As part of this product range, Red Lobster® launched two products viz., Cheddar Bay Biscuit® Shrimp and Coconut Shrimp Bites. As per the company’s statement, this product launch will help Red Lobster® increase its foothold in the industry.

On the other hand, companies such as Frozen Fish Direct, to cater to the demands of their customers in a better way, announced the launch of their e-commerce website. The company stated that the e-commerce website will provide customers with around 200 types of frozen seafood products including squids, prawns, salmon, crabs, etc. The launch of the e-commerce website will help Frozen Fish Direct to expand its operations globally.

To sum it up, the use of freezing techniques for the preservation of seafood products has witnessed a major surge in popularity owing to certain advantages of these techniques. Moreover, advancements such as hurdle technology have further opened new opportunities in the industry. The launch of various products by leading companies in the sector will also augment the growth rate of this domain in the years to come.

To gain a better understanding of the growth drivers and investment opportunities in the industry, talk to our experts today!

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