Category: News

New processes have been developed for the processing of lightly salted products from farmed cod in a project funded by AVS (R 11 006-010).

Farmed fish are usually processed before death, but this has caused certain problems with salt uptake and weight changes in products. It has now been shown that a salt uptake comparable to that in wild fish processed after death hardening can be achieved by controlling the composition of the brine and the salting methods.

There is a difference in the processing of farmed cod and wild cod, which lies in the fact that farmed cod is processed before death. The reason is that there is a greater risk of release if farmed cod is processed after death. In addition, the control of raw material procurement is easier than in traditional wild fish ice fishing, as various external factors, such as distance to the center, make it impossible to process wild fish before death. This difference in processing timing has meant that it has not been possible to transfer the processes used for wild fish to farmed fish as its processing properties differ from wild fish. 

The main products from cod farming are fresh neck pieces that are transported to mainland Europe, but some of the products are also frozen. The advantage of selling aquaculture products is greater security of supply, as the control of raw material procurement is easier, raw material is fresher as it can be processed immediately after slaughter and the shelf life of products is longer. The chemical composition of farmed cod is similar to that of wild cod, but their physical characteristics are different. This means that changes in the muscle during processing, storage and cooking are different, such as there is a risk that farmed cod will be tougher and drier when boiled than wild fish. 

The market for lightly salted products is desirable and is well suited for farmed cod, which is often whiter and thicker than wild cod. In Spain, a market has been built for lightly salted frozen cod products alongside traditional salted fish products. Lightly salted fish is often whiter and the symptoms of action are much milder than in salted fish.

The timing of processing of firefish has caused problems with salting, as salt uptake and weight gain are poorer than when fish have undergone death freezing. This has been one of the main barriers to the production of lightly salted products in the same way as in the case of wild fish. Therefore, it was decided to better investigate the effect of salting methods and the composition of brine on the utilization, quality and chemical content of products, in the project "New processes in the processing of farmed cod" (R 11 006-010). Experiments were made with different composition of brine, salt concentration, as well as the use of phosphates and a mixture of citrate and ascorbate. The substances can affect the waterproofing properties of the muscle, partly due to the effect on ionic strength but also due to the specific activity of the substances:

• Citrate binds divalent ions such as calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) and thus has a positive effect on water resistance. The substance is thought to inhibit the breakdown of glycogen (energy reserves) to some extent, but at the same time, evidence has also been found that it accelerates muscle gain. The substance alone can lower the muscle acidity, which is negative in terms of water resistance, but is offset by the inhibitory effect of the substance on the decrease in acidity due to death stiffness. 
• Phosphate can have a positive effect on acidity, bind divalent ions and reduce the cross-linking between actin and myosin. Therefore, the contraction of the muscle may be less. 
• Salt (NaCl) can increase muscle contraction with death stiffness, but release decreases and less force is needed to remove pin-bones. Salt has a positive effect on water resistance as salt ions bind to muscle proteins and increase the repulsive force between them. This reduces the risk of water loss from the muscle and it can even increase its weight.

The project showed that great results can be achieved in terms of salt uptake and utilization by controlling the salting technique and brine concentration. The results indicated that the use of phosphate and a combination of citrate and ascorbate could reduce the development, according to measurements of the development of the subjects. However, these effects were not observed in color measurements or sensory evaluation. Injection results in more micro-organisms spreading across the muscle and therefore the shelf life of thawed fillets is shorter than in the case of untreated fillets. When injection was followed by pre-freezing brine, the efficacy symptoms of lightly salted fillets became stronger after 3-6 months in frost. With longer storage or up to 9 months, the difference decreased compared to fillets that were only injected before freezing. In general, symptoms such as cravings, odor of cold storage and taste of cold storage became more pronounced over time, regardless of the salting methods or the composition of the brine.

The project was a joint project of Hraðfrystihús - Gunnvarar hf in Súðavík and Matís ohf in Reykjavík. The AVS Research Fund financially supported the project. AVS reference number: R 006-10

For further information Kristín Anna Þórarinsdóttir at Matís.

Matís, in collaboration with Lýsir hf., Contributes to assisting the company's employees in maintaining good bone health.

Every morning, Matís employees are given the opportunity to get Omega-3 + D-vitamins from Lýs hf. thus securing 10 micrograms of vitamin D in one tablet. It is not known that companies in Iceland have assisted their employees in this way.

As has probably not gone unnoticed, many Icelanders struggle with vitamin D deficiency at some stage, at least during the winter months when sunlight is limited. As most people know, vitamin D is essential for the body to absorb calcium from its diet. Without adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium, our bone health will not be as good as it could be. Every exercise, where we carry our own body weight, helps to maintain bone health, but we also need the above ingredients to maximize bone health and prevent osteoporosis and osteoporosis.

Vitamin D is not found in many foods that Icelanders regularly consume. Vitamin D is mainly found in fatty fish, multivitamin tablets and other supplements and then in fish oil. When a fish is consumed that contains vitamin D, that amount of vitamin D is often only enough for the day the fish is consumed. It is therefore necessary to examine how to obtain a reasonable amount of vitamin D every day and then possibly by other means than just by consuming fish.

As things stand today, 10 micrograms is the recommended amount to consume each day, but the recommendations will probably change in the coming months and the recommended daily dose will probably increase.

If and when the government announces a general vitamin D supplementation in food, Matís will review whether there is a need to offer this product to its employees. Until then, the company contributes and ensures that Matís employees receive at least part of the amount of vitamin D every day that is necessary for good bone health.

For further information Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson, Marketing Manager at Matís, tel. 858-5111.

In Borgir in Akureyri, Matís rents premises and would like to offer exciting partners to rent part of that space for their operations.

The accommodation available is a total of 24.4 sqm in size and is a specially designed laboratory with a window for the entire short side, two openable window frames, fume cupboard, large sink, benches on all walls, cabinet under the sink table and gas pipes (various types of gas used in the house and can be linked to them).

Borgir has a number of progressive companies and institutions, such as the Icelandic Innovation Center (IMPRA), the National Energy Authority and the University of Akureyri. There are therefore great opportunities in collaboration and synergies for forward-looking knowledge companies in this environment of interdisciplinary knowledge.

Here you can see some pictures of the premises, but there is also the possibility of renting office space.

For more information Rannveig Björnsdóttir, Matís' station manager in Akureyri and Oddur Már Gunnarsson, Head of Operations and Business Development at Matís.

A report has been published that Matís prepared for the Consumer Association. The report contains the results of an audit of frozen fish in stores. The audit was conducted between July and November 2011.

The quality of frozen and packaged fish in supermarkets in the capital area was examined. Information on the packaging of the fish products was recorded and then measurements were made of the weight of the fish and packaging, ice skin, water loss during thawing, water content, proteins, salt, phosphates and boiling efficiency.

The report can be found here.

Further information on the Consumer Association's website, www.ns.is.

Issue no. 24/2011 in Icelandic Agricultural Sciences (IAS) and there are many interesting scientific articles on Icelandic agriculture and land use. Helga Gunnlaugsdóttir at Matís is a member of the IAS editorial board, but in addition, this edition contains articles by several Matís employees.

The scientific journal Icelandic Agricultural Science, or IAS, is an international journal on life sciences related to agriculture and land use.

IAS has now got a new website www.ias.is. On this page you can access all the scientific articles that have appeared in the publication since the beginning in 1988 in electronic form.

IAS is the only international scientific journal published in Iceland on research related to forestry, fisheries, land reclamation, agriculture and other land use.

In his time, the editorial board changed IAS the name of the publication into English and further increased the requirements for the quality of scientific articles. All articles published in the publication are in English and are peer-reviewed by at least one foreign expert (and one domestic), as well as an editor. In connection with this change, several directors of the institutions responsible for publishing the publication, such as the director of forestry, have agreed to evaluate the publication in their institutional agreements as "Peer-reviewed international scholarly journal".

There will be many interesting things at an introductory meeting about the Icelandic Ocean Cluster which will take place on Thursday 17 November at 15-16: 30 (more here). There will be a discussion on value creation in biotechnology, but Hörður G. Kristinsson, Matís 'research director and Matís' director of biotechnology and biochemistry, will be on the panel.

The meeting will present opportunities that include hundreds of small and large companies in the ocean cluster and how it is possible to increase collaboration and make the most of the opportunities.

Agenda

• Birna Einarsdóttir, CEO of Íslandsbanki and Sigsteinn Grétarsson, Deputy CEO of Marels, open the meeting.
• Þór Sigfússon from the Icelandic Ocean Cluster presents the scope and goals of the cluster.
• Sveinn Kjartansson, chef, shows how the Icelandic sea cluster appears in Icelandic cod.
• Guðmundur Kristjánsson, CEO of Brims, discusses the Icelandic ocean cluster from the point of view of a shipowner and how the entire cluster can be strengthened.
• Árni Oddur Þórðarson, Chairman of the Board of Marels, delivers an address and encouragement.

Nine individuals will also be introduced who are part of the ocean cluster in Iceland and work on such diverse projects as scuba diving on the seabed, exports of grated haddock, international financial services in the fisheries sector, redness as a medical product, biotechnology that can create great value, technology that improves ship equipment and much more.

Following the meeting, TM will host a corporate conference in the lobby of Marels' headquarters.

The ocean cluster

More information at www.sjavarklasinn.is/

In the introduction and in an episode about Hreindýrafélagið in Kastljós on 14 November. sl. stated that the Chief Veterinary Officer and Matís had objected to reindeer being transported to the Westfjords. It can surely be considered here that Matvælastofnun (MAST) and Matís ohf are being confused.

Matís is a knowledge and research company that works on development and innovation in the food industry, biotechnology and food safety. Matís provides advice and services to companies and individuals in the fisheries and agriculture sectors, as well as the Icelandic state. For example, Matís is involved in the development of new products and processes for large and small companies and has an important role to play in terms of food quality and safety. Matís is not subject to general supervision, whether it is food or animals. Matís therefore does not have an opinion on whether it is suitable or desirable to transport reindeer in the Westfjords.

If reindeer are transported to the Westfjords and hunted there, Matís can help hunters and others in the local community to create valuable products from the animals. For example, Matís can assist in establishing suitable food processing for reindeer meat processing. Many well-known products are made from such ingredients, fresh reindeer meat is a festive food that everyone knows, raw sausages made from reindeer meat are made in Norway and chowder and pâté are made from the meat or liver of the animals.

For further information Steinar B. Aðalbjörnsson, marketing director of Matís.

Elementary school children solve climate problems in a LEGO design competition. Up to 100 kids aged 10-15 have registered to play in the LEGO design competition for primary school children, First Lego League, which will be held tomorrow, Saturday 12 November, at Háskólatorg.

The aim of the competition is to arouse primary school students' interest in science and technology as well as to build their self-confidence, leadership skills and life skills. Each year, the competition is chosen a specific theme that is high on the agenda in the world. This year the theme will be food security. Ólafur Ögmundarson is Matís' representative on the jury and does well as he knows the value and transport chain of food very well.

It can be said that the competition consists of five different projects. In the first task, the contestants build a robot from a computer-controlled LEGO-i that is programmed to solve a specific puzzle. Second, competitors must conduct a scientific study of a particular subject. This time the project is about food factor and the participants have to move a certain product from one place to another in the most efficient way. Thirdly, the contestants keep a detailed diary of preparations for the competition and fourthly, they are to present the original entertainment. Fifth, the teams have to explain how they programmed their robot, which tests the participants' knowledge of their own equipment.

Nine teams from the same number of schools across the country have registered for the game and there are between 6-10 people in each team along with one adult team manager. All teams were sent a track and competition shirt eight weeks before the competition to prepare.

The program of the competition starts at 9 on Saturday morning and it is expected that the winners will be crowned at 15. The winning team has the opportunity to compete in the European First Lego League. In addition to prizes for winning the competition, prizes are awarded for the best solution in robot design and programming, the best research project, the best diary, the best entertainment and the best team. All participants receive a FLL medal in recognition.

The competition has taken place in this country for the past 6 years and has always attracted a lot of attention. The proportion of people with a vocational and technical education is sometimes used as a measure when examining how well prepared nations are for the future. If the number of people with such an education in Icelandic society is to increase, it is important to increase interest in technology and science among the country's youth. The LEGO design competition is an innovative way to do this.

The School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland manages the competition and its sponsors are Nýherji, the Icelandic Society of Engineers, the Confederation of Icelandic Industries and Matís.

Everyone is welcome to watch the competition at Háskólatorg.

Further information about the competition is provided by Ingi Rafn Ólafsson, Marketing and Promotion Director of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, ingirafn@hi.is and GSM: 772-1400.

_{News taken from the website of the School of Engineering and Natural Sciences at the University of Iceland.}

Recently, the Tanzanian government and Matís signed a co-operation agreement on a project worth around ISK 40 million related to research on fish, fish processing and an assessment of the social status of fishing communities on Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.

This is a collaborative project between Matís, VJI consultancy, Ráðgarður ship consultancy and GOCH engineering company in Tanzania. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

For further information Oddur Már Gunnarsson at Matís.

Matís is a regular participant in development cooperation projects around the world. This co-operation contributes, for example, to the development of knowledge in the food industry in developing countries through Matís' co-operation with the Icelandic Development Cooperation Agency, the United Nations University and others working on development co-operation. For example, Matís has been to Kenya and held courses for fisheries inspectors under the auspices of the United Nations University School of Fisheries and in Mozambique, where Matís staff have carried out audits of a laboratory in Maputo and assisted and guided the laboratory's quality team in preparing for accreditation. Mozambique in the development of official quality control in the fisheries sector. Working on the quality issues of the laboratories in Maputo, Beira and Quelimane is part of that collaboration.

Knowledge and experience of Matís' quality system is used to finalize procedures and documents belonging to quality systems, and it is then decided what steps are necessary to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to apply for accreditation.

At the end of 2011, the exemption votes that Icelanders have from the regulation in food legislation in the European Economic Area (EEA) expire. In recent months, certain concepts about food have been discussed and it is important that these terms are used correctly to prevent misunderstandings.

These terms are on the one hand food safety and on the other hand food safety.

• Food Safety (Food safety) discusses how safe foods are for consumption and whether they cause harm to the health of consumers
• Food security (Food security) deals with access to food and the supply of healthy and safe food

Further information on the above concepts and on Matís 'role in the implementation of new EEA food legislation in Iceland is provided by Sveinn Margeirsson, Matís' CEO, sveinnm@matis.is.

Í Bændablaðið 27 October sl. (p. 14) is a press release on the implementation of EEA food legislation in Iceland.