Freshness is an important attribute of sardine quality, which measurement for control purposes needs simple and rapid methods. This study shows the suitability of PCA of the averaged sardine VISNIR spectra to predict sardine freshness. The sample was composed of a relatively small number of sardines, the proposed method being suitable for routine analysis. The results of PLS tests indicated this method can be useful to confirm a sardine freshness class defined according to PCA results. The tests with PLS-DA and clustering indicated the practical interest of these last methods is lower, even though being in good agreement with those from PCA and PLS.

The author deeply thanks Mr. Miguel Flores Amor, fish wholesaler at Mercasevilla S. A. wholesale market, for his collaboration in this study by donating the sardine samples used. This study has been carried out without specific founding, while the author thanks to the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain his founding as staff.

6 Páginas.-- 8 Figuras.-- 2 Tablas