AQUA 2024

August 26 - 30, 2024

Copenhagen, Denmark

FISH FOR HEALTH – IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF CULTURED FISH FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Daniel Lemos* , Jéssica Levy, Rafael Coelho, Caio Perazza, Thais Machado, Cristiane Neiva, Vander Santos, Eduardo Abimorad, Alexandre Hilsdorf,  Rodrigo Carvalho,  Fernando Stopato, Albert Tacon

Fish for Health Research Nucleus, FAPESP, São Paulo, Brazil

*(dellemos@usp.br)

 



The project (5-yr) focusses on the promotion and increased use of fish and seafood products as a more healthy alternative to the consumption of processed red meat products and `fast-foods’ in the fight against obesity, coronary heart disease, and associated ailments within the State of São Paulo, with obesity and associated ailments accounting for over 65% of total deaths in Brazil, and health-care costs dealing with overweight and obesity being over US$ 26 billion annually. The project aims to improve the health and well-being of people through the implementation of a multidisciplinary research approach, by 1) a socio-economic market survey concerning the main aquatic food products consumed within the State, 2) measuring the nutrient content and quality of the major aquatic food products consumed 3) monitoring the variability in the nutrient content and quality of major farmed and consumed aquatic food products and the nutrient composition and quality of the locally manufactured aquaculture feeds used to produce them, 4) enhancing the nutrient content and potential health value of farmed species through dietary fortification 5) development of sustainable products with a focus on reducing losses from fish industrialization, 6) improving the nutritional quality using genetic markers and genome wide association studies, and 7) increasing public awareness and understanding concerning the health benefits of fish through the dissemination and publication of project findings. After 20 months of project development results showed though a representative sample (questionnaire respondents) among the most abundant consumer classes (income based), São Paulo State citizens consumption mainly 1-4 times/month, mostly supplied by supermarkets (50%), equally fresh or frozen. The main reason for consumption of aquatic food is elevated nutritional quality and the price is considered high for the eight main species consumed in the state, sourced by fisheries or farming. A review of the locally published literature suggests a more consistent definition of nutrient content in the main aquatic food species consumed is needed and should also consider potential contaminants. In addition, growth of juvenile shrimp (L. vannamei) fed plant-based diets could be improved by supplementation of algal oil (EPA+DHA) with no effect upon sensory attributes in comparison to fish meal-based diets, while nutrient content in shrimp muscle responded to increasing dietary levels of algal oil. In genetics, the base population (BP) was established with tilapias from nine different origins covering a significant part of the national territory, and targeted matings were carried out among the BP animals, giving rise to the first selection generation (G1). Fish for Health will keep generating results and new knowledge about the healthy consumption of fish, in addition to developing solutions to improve its nutritional quality, which can symbolize the food of the future, in the context of safety, nutrition and sustainability.