FORMALDEHYDE INSTEAD OF DIMETHYLAMINE DETERMINATION AS A MEASURE OF TOTAL FORMALDEHYDE FORMED IN FROZEN ARGENTINE HAKE (MERLUCCIUS-HUBBSI)

The relationship between dimethylamine (DMA) and formaldehyde (FA) con tents of fillet and minced flesh of hake (Merluccius hubbsi) during fr ozen storage was analysed. The relation is clearly linear and independ ent of the type of product and storage temperature. As the intercept w as nearly zero, a constant relation between FA and DMA was established , with both similar as keeping time predictors. Measuring FA content b y the chromotropic acid method was equivalent to, but easier than meas uring DMA content.