Valorization of Basa (Pangasius bocourti) Fish Waste to Prepare Safe Pet Food and its Shelf-Life Extension Using Gamma Irradiation

Basa (Pangasius bocourti) fish is commonly used in fish fillet industry and it generates 75% of waste that causes environmental pollution. However, this waste is a rich source of nutrients and fatty acids. In the present work, analyses of Basa fish waste oil showed high contents of oleic acid (45.15%), linoleic (11.31%) and alpha linolenic acid (0.52%). Hence safe pet foods as powder and kibble forms were prepared utilizing Basa fish waste and using γ-irradiation, known to be promising technology for extension of shelf life of food. Microbiological and lipid peroxidation analyses, showed an extended shelf-life of 65 days for both the pet foods when irradiated at 2.5 kGy whereas, non-irradiated kibble and powder samples spoiled within 28 and 35 days respectively. No significant changes in proximate composition of these pet foods were observed on irradiation.