First Investigation on the Shelf life of Mediterranean Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) on the Basis of Their Volatiles Profiles

Volatiles are critical for real and perceived quality of mussels. In the present study, we determined, for the very first time, the characteristic volatiles of fresh Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and their variation during 4 days of storage at 6.0 ± 0.5 °C. During this time, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored using SPME-GC-MS. Twenty-seven VOCs were identified in mussel meat: eight esters, seven alcohols, three acids, three aldehydes, three ketons, one phenol, one sulfide, and one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. While the molecular fingerprint of the fresh mussel was very simple, during storage, there was the onset of reliable shelf life markers. Two of them, namely 1-octen-3-ol and 2-nonanone, appeared after 1.5 days and increased during chilled storage up to the fourth day. Other seven compounds (three free acids, four esters, and one phenol derivative) were found only after 4 days. Shelf life markers monitoring enables correct transport and storing conditions and prevention of the distribution of stale mussels.