Study on the effect of hydrogen-included reducing atmosphere packaging on quality deterioration of refrigerated Litopenaeus vannamei.

This study evaluated the synergistic effects of hydrogen-included reducing atmosphere packaging (H2-RAP) on the quality of Litopenaeus vannamei during storage at 4 °C. Shrimp were packaged with varying CO2 (50%, 75%) and H2 (0%, 0.05%, 0.5%, 1.5%) concentrations. Results showed that H2 addition significantly delayed quality deterioration (p < 0.05), with the 75% CO2 background yielding the most pronounced benefits. Specifically, 75% CO2/1.5% H2 was most effective in suppressing lipid and protein oxidation, while 75% CO2/0.5% H2 provided superior efficacy in inhibiting microbial proliferation, moisture loss, and sensory degradation (p < 0.05). H2 exhibited concentration-dependent preservation mechanisms, with 0.5% H2 combined with 75% CO2 offering the optimal balance between antioxidant and anti-deterioration performance. Compared to CO2 packaging alone and air-packaged controls, the incorporation of H2 further extended the shelf life by 2-3 days and over 6 days, respectively, demonstrating its high potential for shrimp preservation.