Use of biogenic amines to evaluate spoilage in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and whiting (Merlangus merlangus)

Fish muscle decarboxylases generate biogenic amines during spoilage. We monitored spoilage in plaice and whiting by assaying biogenic amines represented by the amine index (AI), and by using expert assessors to determine a freshness index (FI) for each fish. First we characterized the assessor- and fish species-related effects on FI, and then we sought to correlate changes in AI and FI by statistical data analysis. We propose rejection limits on the basis of our findings.