A protease-free composition and method for producing it is disclosed. The protease-free composition inhibits the enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning of foods and beverages susceptible to browning, such as shrimp, mushrooms and wines. A method for inhibiting browning using the protease-free extract is described.

Batch method and apparatus for treating foodstuffs, especially dried proteinaceous products such as shrimp, with a liquid, especially with an aqueous rehydration medium under automatically controlled conditions of temperature, pressure and time.

Resorcinol derivatives are disclosed as inhibitors of enzymatic browning in foods and beverages such as shrimp, apples, fruit juices and wines.

Compositions and methods are described for preventing or inhibiting oxidative darkening of foods and beverages. The compositions comprise at least one substituted resorcinol derivative and at least one additive which when applied in combination with the resorcinol derivative prevents enzymatic browning of the food or beverage. The compositions inhibit the enzymatic browning of foods and beverages susceptible to browning, such as shrimp, potatoes, apples, avocados, fruit juices and wines.

The preservation of meat products is accomplished utilizing a combination of smoke, ozone and freezing preservation techniques. Particularly, fish products are sized into portions that are first treated with smoke, followed by treatment with ozone and then optionally frozen. The preservation system extends the shelf life of the fish products and permits the fish to maintain its freshness and freedom from bacterial decomposition for a longer period of time following catch. The preservation process further maintains the characteristics of day caught fish, such as taste, texture and color, making the refreshed fish products produced by the present system more appealing to consumers.